Jack-in-the-Box

by Skye Shae Bonati

Circa 2010

A child comes,

And he finds it.

It waits in the box,

Happy.

It is shaken by the child,

To see what he contains.

Painted red and jolly green,

With a circus on the side,

He wants to play.

On the top is a lid,

But the child can't open it,

No matter how hard he tries.

On the side is a handle

And the child grasps it with his hand,

And it turns.

Around and around,

With silly fascination he winds it.

It waits in the box,

Happy.

Music spindles out,

Singing a gay melody.

The child smiles at the game,

and then:

The freed prisoner pops out,

And he wants to play.

But the child screams,

Ands runs away.

Copyright © 2026 Skye Shae Bonati. All rights reserved. This artwork may not be reproduced, modified, or distributed in any form without the express written permission of the artist.

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