coming up short

the magician saws
the woman in half, bloodless,
she's smiling
as he separates the front
from the back,
swirls the boxes around.
not a single scream
is heard,
no crunching of bones,
no fear.
he's happy with his work,
bowing
to the applause.
holding up the shiny
sharp toothed saw.
the feet sticking out of one
box wiggle,
while the arms on
the front wave.
then he puts them back together,
waves a wand,
and the woman appears
whole again, but shorter now,
much shorter.