Degas Dancers

** Degas Dancers ** Painted or drawn, Degas arrested time. Truly His dancers — even those standing, watching the others — Are caught in motion, In poised postures such That we think we can feel them Breathing, alerting Their limbs To prepare for performance; (On stage or in the studio) with That tension,that anticipation, or Waiting primed in stage wings — The blue dancers, The green ballerinas — Always observing, Always envisioning What is to come, Ever mindful Of the goals: To become the music, Leaving self for the movements, Hoping to realize that epitome: To paint their bodies with grace Into such danced, linked, perfectly Sweeping lines, curves, and angles that The music itself Will gasp… The music, sounds fulfilled Into flowing sights As the dancers live The choreographed Combinations. Then curtsies are Done and flowers thrown. In the endings, dancers become Themselves again, like Degas drew them: sitting Slumped, tired, side by side on benches With their tutus flared and Colorful; their pointe Shoes off with ribbons strewn; The music fading from thought… But, the ballet remains, The very meaning of Their lives, in all Dreams and imaginings, Blessed to them First to last Every motion Becoming a Joy in Being. ————————————————————————————- (c) Art & poem sally young eslinger 2/22/22