Monday, November 11, 2013

Maitresse

Danseuse ajustant sa brettelle, 1895-96, Edgar Degas


Maitresse
©2013 Susan Noyes Anderson


It's music I remember most of all.
Soaring strains of winged Tchaikovsky
brought to earth by steady beat
of wooden cane against a parquet floor.
The ballet mistress, mean with added weight,
despised her torpid flesh and tortured ours.
Through us she danced, each arabesque
a thrust against our firm yet fragile borders.
I foiled each foray, held her off with
grand battement, changement, changement, changement.
Her face was rouge, piqued by my piqué turns.
She chastised us for nibbling a cruller,
gorged herself on crepes and jam.

∞§∞

for more magpies, click below

19 comments:

Leovi said...

Exquisite verses ballet dancers!...

21 Wits said...

Ah yes, I believe I've met that teacher, she the one that lived through each tiny ballerina step she watched! This just rang through like a must be heard song! Your poem goes well with my opening unknown quote too!

21 Wits said...

http://twincitiesblather.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-mag-edgar-193.html

I couldn't seem to get the link to work again. Karen

Tess Kincaid said...

I'll take some of those crepes and jam...

Wayne said...

nicely danced.....thanks

Silent Otto said...

Like a hundred Shining Crystals dancing in the ether before clicking into place at the denoument ,a tender embrace ....
Thanks

Helen said...

Simply delightful!

humbird said...

Very interesting memoir if you will... Like this line 'Through us she danced'...resonate with me as a piano teacher :D ~ Thanks for visiting and commenting at my blog xx

Anonymous said...

You paint a vivid picture here. Love the musical touch:)
Tigerbrite

Grandma Yellow Hair said...

What a lovely way you have with words my dear sweet Sue.
Hope your doing well and your Mom is better every day.
Love
Maggie

LeAnn said...

Just delightful and brought back some memories of my ballet days. I also have a sweet granddaughter taking ballet and will be in the Nutcracker in their area.
Blessings!

Brian Miller said...

smiles...i know her....my wife was a ballerina and she had some very interesting characters for teachers...ha...

karen said...

I always wished I were a dancer - but maybe I never envisioned such a mean instructor! I've had piano teachers that were a bit like that though... Beautiful phrasing, Sue.

EG CameraGirl said...

In so few words you've painted a vivid picture in my mind. Makes me glad I never studied ballet. ;)

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Pure pleasure to read!
Anna :o]

Unknown said...

This paints such clear pictures in my mind. You are such a word weaver.

Splendid Little Stars said...

What a great picture you paint!
such clever words!

~T~ said...

My, what a vivid memory. It must have been one of those experiences that built character!

Amy said...

Love the last bit!