Ballet Barre

releve 

To rise 

glissade 

To glide

allonge 

To stretch 

Reach

Your hands turn away from your body towards the side of the room

Reaching for something that is never there

This was always your step

Because your primary ballet teacher 

Told you it was like a bird

Reach little bird

Try harder little bird

Blood and sweat mixed together

Covered by rhinestones and pink tutus

Moves that you have practiced since you were four

But can never perfect

Always reaching

And yet, 

Someone is still always better than you

And you can’t escape from it

Mirrors surround you 

Your greatest asset, and also your worst nightmare

That distort your vision 

Hours upon hours

Lines that are better than yours

Dancers that grow to the ceiling 

Swallowing you 

Hidden monsters

Grabbing 

And still you keep coming back 

Joy grows in the corners 

Like daffodils breaking through the mud 

Signs of warmer time

The touch of an arm 

The feeling of flying

Sparrows over fields of spring grass

Why do you dance 

Is a question that is often asked

Sometimes you ask yourself that too 

As you tie those shoes 

That feel like bricks on your feet 

And watch the little face

Peering over the side of the white staircase

Entranced in the snaking pink ribbons 

As they wrap their way around your ankle 

And suddenly it’s all worth it

Because that little girl was once you

Watching and dreaming 

Plie

And up 

Arabesque 

Hold longer

Leg higher

And hold

Stretch further 

Reach 

Little bird