The darling ballerina takes the stage

Twirling, twining, soaring higher, further

A methodic beauty, song ends, she lays

Alone, on the stage, crying bloody murder

Losing her mind over one false landing,

One foot slightly out of place, imperfect.

Ugly! Ugly! the crowd sings, throwing sweet roses,

She is a broken girl as they applaud

Spine stiff, yet she still smiles as she poses.

Her skin is too raw, her complexion flawed.

She knows that she will truly never be

The beauty she only sees for moments

Without cracked mirrors, she makes a vow,

Her plight unheard, she takes a single bow.

–WP–

(Published March 2022)