The Dancer

The young woman waits anxiously, backstage 
In the shadows created by the soft, velvet curtain. 
Her heart is pounding so loudly that she was sure
It could be heard by those standing around her, 
Possibly even by the spectators who have 
Come to show their support or perhaps 
Had nothing better to do that day

The young woman is standing on the edge of her future 
About to begin the performance that
She had been training for her whole life.

In her mind she repeats
‘The dancer's trembling heart 
Must bring everything into harmony, 
From the tips of her shoes to
The flutter of her eyelashes, 
From the ruffles of her dress 
To the incessant play of her fingers.’
-Federico Garcia Lorca
A quote that had always inspired her.

If she gets it right she will be rewarded 
The opportunity to change her life for the better, 
To be able to do what fuels the flames within her heart, 
To study her passion,
To truly become a dancer.

She watches as another souls audition 
For the same opportunity comes to a close 
As the music starts to fade.

Then the familiar notes begin of the tune
That she had spent so many hours listening to. 
Listening not only with her ears 
But with every cell of her body, 
With every fiber of her soul, 
With every beat of her heart. 

Her body begins to move 
As if one with the melodies 
That echo throughout the auditorium.
She had spent months learning to move 
Her body in precise synchronization 
With each note of the music that played.

As she danced, she felt more alive that she ever had. 
She felt as if she were floating on a cloud. 
She became so lost within the music, 
Lost within the movements of her body 
That she almost forgot that she was giving 
The performance of a lifetime.
The number drew to a close, 
And she was startled back to reality 
By the applause that she had received.
 
As she looked around, 
Her eyes began to focus and
She realized that she was 
Receiving a standing ovation. 
She saw the awe and inspiration 
Within their eyes. 
In that moment, she had realized, 
Regardless of what happens next, 
That she had achieved her dream. 
She was a dancer.

7/19/2021
inspired by quote: ‘The dancer's trembling heart 
Must bring everything into harmony, 
From the tips of her shoes to
The flutter of her eyelashes, 
From the ruffles of her dress 
To the incessant play of her fingers.’
-Federico Garcia Lorca

dancefree verse

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