dream

at the barre

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I take my place
in Degas,
one knee bent, to
slide my foot into pink leather.
I wish I had ribbons and a tutu.

I walk over to the barre,
stand in a line with
Pauline, Petrova and Posy,
but the self I face in the mirror,
is a grown-up woman.

My head turns into
Coppelia, a line traced
through generations.
My toes point with
Bull and Bussell,
Pavlova, and Guillem,
almost.

I plié and rise,
and I am in a
pirouette of dancing
bliss.  The landing is askew;
I am alight.

‘And one and two
and three and four’
echoes all around
me and all around the
world.  A hundred little girls
and companies of swans and mice
and courtiers and peasants.

Did someone just call me a
ballerina?  Oh!

found poem – Brussels, autumn 2014, translation

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The freedom to be yourself.
Welcome! Bienvenue! Wilkom!
Home.
‘Tutu’ pendant light.

Happiness often sneaks in
through a door
you did not know
was open.

For me it’s about being
more than a man.
The flat street lined with poplars, stretched out before them
a fragment of a free universe.

Welcome.
Dream of honey.
Smoking is not allowed in our hotel rooms.
If you do so, you will be fined €150.

Don’t forget to toast me!

To go further.
Haven’t we all the same Father?
Were we not created by one God?

Summon the heroes.
Start each day like it’s your birthday.
Spark joy.

Passing friend, may this visit stay with you as a moment of peace.

Note: The location of this poem in the title was originally ‘city’.  I decided to add the actual location in case it enhanced the reader’s experience.

found poem – Brussels, autumn 2014

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The freedom to be yourself.
Welcome! Bienvenue! Wilkom!
Home.
Suspension “tutu”.

Happiness often sneaks in
through a door
you did not know
was open.

Il s’agit pour moi
d’être plus qu’un homme.
La route plate bordée de peupliers,
étirait devant eux
un fragment du libre univers.

Welcome.
Rêve de miel.
Smoking is not allowed in our hotel rooms.
If you do so, you will be fined €150.

Don’t forget to toast me!

Pour aller plus loin.
N’avons nous pas tous un seul père?
Un seul dieu ne nous a-t-il pas crées?

Summon the heroes.
Start each day like it’s your birthday.
Spark joy.

Ami de passage, que cette visite reste en toi comme un moment de paix.

Notes on locations: Marco Polo store, Made in Louise hotel (MIL), MIL, Max Yamamoto store, MIL, MIL, MIL, Marguerite Yourcenar Park, Grand Synagogue de Bruxelles, Synagogue, Poster for concert, Subdued store, advertisement, sign in Église Notre Dame du Sablon, Brussels.

Note: The location of this poem in the title was originally ‘city’.  I decided to add the actual location in case it enhanced the reader’s experience.