Once Upon A Shadow, Deep Inside A Dream

The Dancer 8-28-02

THE DANCER

The dancer held her breath and looked out,
As the crowd saw her pause, they began to shout.
The music rose high and sharp, reaching,
Deep inside the single dancer's heart, seeking.
She could hide her longing no longer,
In fact, during each dance, the desire grew stronger.
She stood still in dismay, off to the right side of the stage,
Imagining herself in a very small cage.
The music continued though the dance stopped,
And some of the audience whispered that the ballet had flopped.
The dancer stood with arms reaching out,
She looked at her cage formed by doubt.
She saw all the people, staring silently,
And she wondered aloud, "Why won't they help me?"
So carefully she took a step to the left, and twirled about,
Stepped through the imagined bars, and danced lightly out.
She held her breath once more and heard again,
The music she had welcomed in.
The pitch rose, the dance began,
She did not fear the cage any longer, across the gilded stage she ran.