The Dancing Class In Repose, by ​Jennifer B. Kahnweiler

The Dancing Class, by Edgar Degas (France) 1874

The Dancing Class In Repose  

surprised 
to sneak a peak of y’all in repose

hands loosened
necks stretched
toes flattened 

Monsieur Perrot with the rats    
young company members

he lurks 
like a hall monitor 
drunk with power

y’all restrain from 
the break you crave 
one of release with abandon

oh, to escape 

the pain 

toes numb
limbs taught 
jaws immobile 

afraid monsieur will look your way
pound his cane  
say
YOU are not devoted to your art 

or is that a story you made up?

take a note
mimic the dancer 
with brown hair 
stage left
a yellow bow at her waist
confidence in the face of her fear

close your eyes 
toss your own head back
and you too scratch the itch 
below your shoulder

soon the accompanist sits down  
feel the music 
learn your part
no time to think of repose 

​Jennifer B. Kahnweiler
​
Jennifer B. Kahnweiler is a non-fiction author of 5 books and a poet who is based in Atlanta, GA. A favorite aunt gifted her with a book of Edna St. Vincent Millay’s poems and she was hooked. She started writing poems during the pandemic, and received the Natasha Trethewey poetry prize from the Atlanta Writers Club. She has been published in the Avalon Literary Review and MacQueen's Quinterly in recent months.