midnight dancer

midnight dancer the ballerina turned round and round upon her pointed toes to the gentle sound of the music box before the lid was closed i followed from a distance watching as she gathered cigarette butts and paper napkins the haze of yellowed streetlights reflected onto her teeth when she smiled through shattered memories her black wool coat was more than she needed and less than she wanted when the scent of chanel no. 5 tempted her with memories of wishes where old dreams had died i hated my tears when i watched her and yet i knew she would kiss them if kisses were meant for a prince i had become a pauper in the presence of this midnight dancer poking at empty pockets where frayed cloth replaced pennies she sat against bricks and stones weeping wondering why the promises of yesterday were dropped into a bell ringer’s kettle on a bitter december day and salvation was non-refundable leaving her with only cigarette butts and napkins to unfurl before a king tolbert