She Who Dances

I who dance at the barre She who dances not by choice Pointed toes, fifth position. At the bar, on the street I who dance in mirrors, She who dances while Dark Night spreads fingers into every chasm, In photographs, in dresses. Stripping freedom, stripping spirit I who dance while Spotlights spread their glow around me, Shedding fear, shedding silence She who dances broken promises From employment agencies From the man who barks orders. 
And when I’m dancing lifted high In spirit on a stage, She who dances with their money In photographs, in costumes I who dance feeling keeping business up. I who dance everywhere And when She dances lifted high for those On beaches, sand crinkling in my toes Who strip her body down to numbness. In classrooms, tapping toes under tables She who dances slowly dying. I who dance down winding roads In darkness, in nightmares She who dances.