Her Painted Eyes

[OddyseyT]

The ballerina danced

In endless pirouettes

Atop her velvet platform

To a delicate dreamer's song

The mirrors set behind

Glittered with the light

In the gazing admirer's eyes

And happily she twirled

The children saw only

A pair of painted doll eyes

Never knowing that she

Gazed upon them from within

The ballerina smiled

Her white plastic smile

Shining in the reflected

Sparkle from the glass behind her

Sometimes the children

Went away, but always

They returned to see

Delicate dance of ballerina

One day the music ended

And ballerina's pirouettes

Slowed to stop forever

And she stood in silent judgment

Her painted eyes only now saw

The glitter had been fading

Long and now was gone

Her plastic smile never faltered

The children stood about

Barely aware of broken ballerina

Just one pair of eyes

Touched the brief surface of her gaze

"Well, oh well, the box

Is broke... Just get another"

And in darkness she lay

The children giggled...echoing

In the darkness, ballerina

Tried to twirl, but it was too late

To be free from her

Endless painted form

Ballerina had always danced

She believed the sparkle reflected

In the children's gaze was love

As her glassy eyes remained fixed

Her home lay atop a shattered pile

Ballerina stood in silence

Contemplating forgotten dreams

Her plastic smile undimmed

Soon she was forgotten

As the tears glittered unseen

In a jewelry box ballerina's

Painted eyes.

[His Servant]

This is perhaps one of the most revealing poems I have read in a long while.

Keep up the excellent work. Very moving and expressive.

Blessings & Peace,