Nervous and jittery she stands in the wings

Silently waiting For the riff of music

That signaled her grand entrance

​

Then her heart skipped a beat

As the piano made the slow rise in beat

She gently leapt from the shadows

​

Throwing her beauty and grace to the audience

Like rays of sun breaking through the clouds

She gracefully fluttered across the stage

​

In a trance the audience gazes soulfully at the butterfly

Angelically fluttering across the stage

Spreading her wings full of life and grace

​

Her lines so smooth and clear

Each look and movement perfectly planned

It appeared so effortless it was almost impossible

​

But the dancer

On the stage

Hid her pain from the audience

​

With every step and every move

She fought

to show a sense of poise

 

Fear of failing

And showing the world

She could hurt too

​

For with every step and every leap

Her legs would wobble under the weight

Of the pressure

As her time came to end

she danced off the stage

still maintaining her fluid movement

​

Out of the spotlight

Back in the safety

of the shadows

​

Her once elegant wings

Wrapped tightly around her fragile frame

Once again hiding her from the world

​

Mikenna Mallard, 12-13-16