The Decayed Ballerina

brittle stained jagged fingernails
scratch against the splint hairs
of a cold weathered wooden elbow

an impatient clock had sapped
a once supple leather coat

now requiring constant mending
as homeless unraveling posed an inevitable ending

torn pockets spilled over
with a plethora of dead letters

hope had long ago delivered 
its final walking papers
 
without care of return receipt

handmade trees with news of unease 
spun unmercifully 
into the arms of a brisk fall breeze

birds began their escape 
into the mouth of another sun

a slow rise from a patinaed throne
on a benched park seat

a myopic vision of how cracks 
are formed on overused and forgotten streets

she walks alone 

to nowhere

a decayed ballerina

the place she is seen as most complete

Copyright © | Year Posted 2018



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Date: 2/6/2021 8:23:00 PM
A pleasure to find this delightful poem published in the 2020 PS Anthology, Gabrielle ~
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Date: 12/9/2020 8:23:00 PM
Really puts me there. Wonderful!
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Date: 11/14/2018 10:50:00 AM
Seemly wonderful, beautiful posed.. Gabrielle, "thanks for sharing your gift.. Write On!! James
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Date: 9/23/2018 4:36:00 PM
Love 'cracks form on overused and forgotten streets' so poignant!
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Date: 9/16/2018 12:00:00 AM
Breathtaking!!!! This poem is so exquisite, Gabrielle! So evocative- and that line: "hope had long ago delivered/ its final walking papers/ without care of return receipt"... Wow. Simply AMAZING write, my friend!
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Date: 9/15/2018 7:19:00 PM
This is a masterpiece. Well felt. Great write!
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Jordan Avatar
Gabrielle Jordan
Date: 9/15/2018 7:21:00 PM
Hey Caren, how goes it:)Thanks!
Date: 9/15/2018 6:42:00 PM
This is SO good!! Loved it
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Jordan Avatar
Gabrielle Jordan
Date: 9/15/2018 6:54:00 PM
Thanks Susan!
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