Little girl on her toes

pas de chats and demi plies

leaps and jumps and

twirls, spins, whirls,

as her hair whips round behind her

Little girl, dance dance dancing

her toes pointed, arms curved

eyes closed, head tilted.

she is prima ballerina

the lights are dimmed

and all eyes on her

as she twirls spins whirls

her way across the stage

And little girl, stick thin

crystal-glass fragile

launches high-high-higher

into air and bends her knees

and no one hears

when she comes down.