Ballet Lessons

Cassi Clark, 1999

 

The house is silent like when she sleeps.

I sit alone collecting dust, brown sparkles

cling to my worn white ballet dress.

She will wash it when she returns. We will play

soon, we’ll have tea at the king’s and dance

at the Ball. She’ll be home before long

and she will tell me all about her trip

while she brushes my hair. I’ll listen,

as she confides all her secrets.

She will take me to the store and the park

and we will play again. She’ll return

and we will be together again.