Ballerina

Leopard in a snow white dress, you float across the world 

Soft as a lotus petal and strong as iron, I see the elegance in your step 

The way the sand moves, and the moon behind jungle clouds 

These are your fellow dancers 

And many are the feathers that shake and weave before you, I am sure 

An endless stream of peacocks and pariahs 

All hoping for a crumb of attention, a chance to bask in the association of true beauty 

Aaah yes, I feel for you! 

Truly we are cursed, those of us with the burden of gift 

And the devotion to develop it 

Truly we are punished for being beautiful, and in the strangest ways 

For who would have ever thought we would tire of silk tongues and flattery 

But alas, we do 

Swan on a satin lake, you dance through the minds of many 

I wanted to whisper to you 

“I can see past the shiny silver of your wake 

And underneath that magnificent mirror I see mud, and pain 

I see a small girl crying after class 

and the countless cruel hours of hammering, hammering 

Hammering your splendid blade on the anvil of endless toil 

I see terrible doubt, and dreams that were taken in the service of your craft 

The nameless sacrifices of the true artist 

Who holds out their arms and cries to gods they barely know: 

”Take this, take this from me, so I may have nothing left 

but the fabric of my art!" 

Yes, I know the kisses are piled high, and many knights prance for a chance 

to catch your eye 

But I thought you should know 

that I know 

That you are deeper than daylight reveals 

And in the long shadow of your smile 

It is there that your true mystery dances