Shoulders Up, Back Straight, Elegant, Poised

Written for my friend, who was madly ranting to me about her ballet instructor

"Shoulders up!" She calls
Petite and pinch-faced
Wearing half her weight in makeup
"Backs straight!" She chants
Poking us to emphasize her point
"Elegance!" She screeches
Her salt-and-pepper hair twisted up
"Poise!" She pleads
Watching as we take the stage, red ribbons in our hair
"Not good enough!" She berates
As we come back, heads hanging
"Ugly and gangly!" She screams
As we wash our makeup off
and hide our tears in the water. 

"Shoulders up!" She calls
the next day is the same
"Back straight!"
"Elegance!"
"Poise!"
Back straight, head up, elegant, and poised,
I let her words sink in
As we take the stage again
And come off
"Not good enough!"
"Ugly and gangly!"

Shoulders up, back straight, elegant, poised, 
We just need to feel something
As we search for our escape
Red ribbons on our wrists
Elegant and straight, they run
Poised, the weep as we do
Are we good enough now?

Shoulders up, back straight, elegant, poised
Shoulders up, back straight elegant, poised

~xoxomika

Reviews

[AClockworkGirl]

I don't consider myself any kind of expert, but I love this poem! Speaking as someone who has studied music and dance, this piece evokes many memories. Totally personifies the little voice in my head that's always critiquing me. The repetition really makes it. Wonderful work! :)