Her thin-lipped smile fell into her breath,
Air withering soundless touching and melting
Nowhere.
Warm and human, she traced their eyes,
Their whispering mouths;
Curtained by narrow cracks of applause,
She danced, a delicate innocence
Into another time,
Contracted by her mother, outlined in a dress,
Emptied of beauty.
Her flesh cold, drenched in leaps and pirouettes,
Stalky legs empty of complaint;
She will lose herself in the ritual of the dance,
Yet, her movements flake off,
Shingled to a floor;
Her fabulous day ended.
The grim gargoyles squatting in seats,
Flint eyes fixed on a delicate child,
In hate, to come, later,
Into her dreams.
Their menace wrapped in bleeding hearts
At a patron level,
Steadfast in a grievance; she, pale as death,
Ousted from a sleep, outcast like a dead Jesus;
Her soul drained like water out of a church hole,
Buried in slate, clean, with her face vague as a fog;
Mute as a baby.
Swaddled in white, tending, without stopping, those
Turnstiles, framed in a suburb.
Turning. Turning. Greased machines for the rich.
She weeps. Weeps for one last dance.
The thought rots, rots in the hollow of her skull.
Copyright © 08/27/18 lance sheridan®
So beautiful and yet so sad and poignant.
Beautiful lines ✌🏾
Thank you!
Welcome dear
Oh, mercy Lance, the images explode in the mind to allow the reader to see the painting of sheer beauty but yet, sadness in the eyes of a dance – excellent is the word – profound. Barb:)
Barbara, you’re so very thoughtful! Thank you sincerely.
Oh good grief this is superb … I always loved that statue also
I greatly appreciate your thoughts. Thank you!
ah we could go back with ‘the pleasure it mine’ ‘no it’s mine!’ as I think we both mean it! Nothing better than meeting someone whose work really fires you up and gets you loving poetry all over again because of how good it is
I totally agree! You rock!
Deeply moving…poignant and sad. Beautifully woven words.
Dorianna, I sincerely appreciate your wonderful thoughts! Thank you.
Dorianna, your work is absolutely exquisite!
As is yours my poetic friend…I am thankful for your kind comments.
My sincere pleasure!
Dorianna, thank you so much! It’s a great pleasure.
Sadly beautiful 😍
Thanks so sincerely, ortensia!
gorgeous!
Thank you, Flavio!
What an incredibly rich read.
Wrenching, beautiful, intriguing.
My sincere gratitude, thank you!
You are very welcome!
This is beautiful! Very well written.
Thank you so very much!
So poignant. The little dancer Degas memorialized is once again brought to life in your poetry. ❤
Anna, wonderfully stated. Sincerely appreciated. And thank you for writings- making the world a brighter place!
Beautifully Dark… it is amazing how you create such rich grim images that swallow the imagination.
So vividly put! Thank you, Katrina, for your thoughts and support!
I found it very sad. The images were both infinitely beautiful and troublesome. But it was “The Little Dancer” as Degas depicted her. As an aside note, I have a replica of “The Little Dancer” on one of my library shelves.
Thank you always, Barbara, for your wonderful thoughts and feedback!
this is lovely Lance. Thank you for following my blog I look forward to reading yours as well. I like that your followers comment, where would we be without support ay.
Sincerely appreciated. You’re very welcome! And, many thanks! You’re absolutely right!