The soaring bird with five-foot outstretched wings
Caresses air, her partner in ballet,
Who lifts, supports, displays, and gently brings
Her to the marsh for final soft frappé.
In flight, her neck is arrow-straight, aligned
With trailing legs and feet on point,
A posture Balanchine might fail to find,
For human ballerinas disappoint.
Now circling near, the bird begins to ease
The wind from wings, glide toward the corps de ballet
That waits below, and pleased with what she sees,
She touches down with courtly demi-plié
To show the most severe balletomane
That she’s the prima assoluta crane
Copyright © 2010. Don Thackrey. All rights reserved.