dancers: degas

What we see is the aspiration of flesh to beauty

not the fact, which may be ugly. That the light pours

down on them, as they wait in the wings to go on

stage. The cool and warm pastels separating

on their flesh. Green and white above, warm red

and blue in the shadows beside a cheekbone

electric blue at the eyelid and temple, or

encircling the ear. Warm red on the mouth

As one reaches back, adjusting a strap to

keep her shoulder bare, the pastels separate

and blend into a presence more alive. As if

seen through moist glass, the colors in streaks

side by side, so that the eye must put them together

to achieve a wholeness beyond flesh, with just the

light of the available moment