Ballerina Spalding
Let's workshop this poem about the sacrifices required to achieve heights of artistic talent
Ballerina Spalding
The afroed double-bassist of jazz—
so slender and adorable, yes.
But were you to get as close as
you dream, you would be struck
by that monstrosity had by all
tenacious in their craft.
In her case: calloused dwarf nubs
for fingers; toes of a ballerina.
This poem is unpublished
Painting by Thayer (americanart.si.edu/artwork/roses-23947)