Alone in the dark dressing room
Yet surrounded by dozens of chattering, porcelain-faced girls
Lingered two precious ballerinas
No more than the age of ten
Awaiting their cue to perform their act
Their blue and white costumes shimmered in the glossy light
And the buns in their hair pulled their soft faces into bright smiles
Their stomachs twisted like the knot in the center of a pretzel
But their feelings smoothed like the waves crashing gently into the sand
Because they knew they always had each other
The curtain spread open like the wings of an eagle
And the two girls slowly pranced out to the beat of the soothing music
The usually rock hard wooden stage seemed to soften beneath their petite feet
As if they were dancing among the fluffy clouds of the open sky
Then as fast as a tornado clears away the earth
One of the dancers twirled right off the stage
Leaving the other stranded like a kitten on the highest branch of a tree
To continue the dance all alone
She'll never return to dance by my side
Yet deep in my heart I can still feel the beat
Of her delicate little girl steps
As she spins her way along, into God's open arms

Dedicated to Julie Dawson
March 23, 1982 - January 17, 1998