Porcelain ballerinas,

All lined up in a row,

Each face prettier than the last,

But be careful, they break.

Not in body,

No, for that they’re much too strong,

But in spirit,

Until the look of their gaunt faces scares me along.

They put on a show,

Yes, that’s what they do best.

But I see the curtain fall,

See them as they try to rest.

Their faces are long, their eyes dark-circled,

Their toes are raw and red,

Blood splattered onto pointe shoes,

From a blister that has bled.

And they try harder, harder!

Straining to perfect mistakes.

Dancing, dancing beautifully,

But each smile has been faked.

I don’t want to become one of them,

Though dancing’s what I love,

Because I’m afraid I’ll lose myself,

Trying to be too far above the others.

Ballet is so beautiful,

To people who just want to dance,

Who knew it could be this cruel?

But all things have a darker side.

So today, I decide,

To not let hate tame me.

I decide to keep dancing,

Without pain, carefree!

I’m going to do things my way,

I decide to not be thin.

I’m going to be an unpopular dancer,

I decide to not fit in.

And with this great decision comes peace,

The kind that’s hard to find,

The peace of inner solitude,

Flows across my mind.