In the wings
Seconds before curtains up,
All thoughts of break a leg
Not the jinxed good luck.
Fidgeting with pointe shoe ribbons
Smoothing back stray wisps of hair,
Stomach unsettled to the brink of nausea
Nerves still catching me
When I think of all those people watching
Fixing us with their unblinking stare.
Ushers receiving the all clear
We dancers set to begin
The moment the first note of music filters across the stage,
Each one of us concentrating on the part
That before we've rehearsed and played.
Couruing forth, almost weightlessly doing so
Entrancing the audience with the way we effortlessly glide
For the next three minutes we take you out of your seats
And on a magical ride...
Everyone knowing their positions, postures, pose
Everyone knowing how important those finishing touches are,
The softness of your finger
The tilt of your head as you heighten your nose.
A precise performance, twenty six bodies moving as one
Creating shapes and patterns
In perfect unison,
Focusing with a smile
Absorbing, warming to the music
In everyone's own individual style.
Relaxing, enjoying getting into character
Though we are a bit stuck....
I can't help thinking as we end our dance
Hearing the applause erupt
How difficult it is to appear graceful and elegant
When you're supposed to be a duck!