Ballet Examination
In this room of light diffused Planks beaten by plies and tendus No leeway is given for pretense In space consecrated. Hands reach for the barre Religiously No piece of attire to cover misalignment Any lack in the labors of time. Soon, toe shoes rub in the rosin And left are minuscule splinters Shimmering in the grain. Breath keeps sheltered In the powerhouse chamber Near the heart While gracile turn out of legs extends in synchrony. No false jumps are possible For we would notice stiff landings, A dry thump, Instead, deep plies absorb landings Muffled into sweet sap spilling Soft caramel tendons No sequence improvised Nor a move accidental Arms never let to rest Each finger engaged In the gaze towards the corner Dancers envision eternity And each of them knows what comes next. Exertion is a secret to most Feet embrace the wooden floors scathed with love Buns tightened Ribbons tucked neatly A ritual ceremony unquestioned. The invisible deity that is art Her little servants nearly out of breath Won’t show it They’ll keep going Personified as dance Offering disciplined bodies To rejoice our earthly manifestation.