Juggling Act

Two friends juggled.
The first, with ease.
One ball, then two then three.
Stripes of multicolour
Dashing through the air,
Faster and faster
Higher and higher.
His friend, less sure,
Methodically tossed
Two balls between two hands.
Slowly, steadily.
One red, one green.
She looked on agog.
‘Can you do four?’
She wondered aloud.
Four balls?
Of course.
A new ball
And a wry smile.
Then before long, another…
Not many could manage five.
Five balls.
Whizzing,
Whirring,
Red and green and yellow and blue and orange…
Drunk on his excellence,
He called for ball six
Whilst his friend continued to juggle two balls.
Slowly, steadily,
One red, one green.
She cried ‘surely not?’
But loudly admired his sure-handed juggling
As a purple ball entered the blur.
Faster and faster he juggled,
Higher and higher,
Laughing maniacally,
Proud of his achievements,
Beyond the grasp of most.
Next to him, his friend continued to juggle two balls.
Slowly, steadily.
One red, one green.
His attention lapsed.
He dropped not one ball, but six.
He juggled no more.
His friend juggled on.
Slowly, steadily,
One red ball, one green.