She dances
As if it was the sole reason for her life
As if before birth her bones were carefully carved,
Crafted specifically for this performance.
She dances
As if she has the elements at her utter disposal
Water
Flowing through her body,
Her limbs merely the extension of a brook
Wind
Keeping her steady in impossible positions
Before whisking her into a tornado of elegance
That twirls her across the stage
Earth
Contorting under her impeccably pointed feet
Forming the perfect pedestal, rearranging every moment
To better suit her every whim
And fire
Fire settled deep in her eyes.

She dances
As if she has never known pain
But the scars on her skin
And determined set of her jaw
Will tell you otherwise
She has paid the price for defying gravity.
She dances
And the universe holds its breath
Those who know her whisper,
“I always knew she would be something special,”
And yet they did not

For she dances
As the desperate child struggling at the back of the ballet class
Madam’s hopeless little duck-footed dancer
Who defied everyone’s expectations
To become who she was meant to be.
She dances
Because while the only thing they could see form the outside
Was the awkward, blundering duckling
She could feel the swan emerging within her.

She dances
Because she knew
Despite the despondent glances she received as a child,
That one day
They would call her Grace
And so they did

She takes a bow.