Chrysogonus #40 - the dancer

the dancer

July 22, 2015 – after the attack on a dance recital by a radical fundamentalist group

after the last brush

from a powder sponge

the dancer waited

for the lights to come on

then we heard prayers from afar

getting louder, closer

strange feeling in our chests

now tighter, hard to catch a breath

we saw them coming

swords in some hands

clubs in others

in every mouth, the name of God

white robes floating

through the black night sky

it was as if they were dancing

slashing at the air

then the dancer wept

palms to her face

make-up disarrayed

grace gone

she bowed

to her knees

we waited

hands over our hearts

where did we go wrong

in this sacred communion

of art and the litany

of tunes and dance

nobody left the stage

we were all there for her

we were dancing with her

together in our fear