Wednesday, February 8, 2017

DMC: "Resolute" by Linda Mitchell





RESOLUTE

A ballerina watches
a photographer
set up tripod and camera
near the window.
He hunts, she thinks.
Each move, every glance
measured light,
hushed selection
of prey.
The music stops
and Señora claps sharp.
Dancers line up
for portraits,
one by one against
the weather-beaten wall.
And now her,
the prize shot.
Obediently she steps
into position,
bringing her braids
forward, a deer
in a sun-dappled forest.
The ballerina, however,
escapes falling prey
to simmering clicks
of his camera.
No resigned smile,
no first position
or plié
no giving away
her dance inside.


© 2017 Linda Mitchell. All rights reserved.


Jeannine Atkins has challenged us to write a poem that uses personified feeling. For more details, click HERE. Jeannine offers the following guidance to those feeling stuck: 
"Maybe start with a character in motion and think of her main feeling. Then let her or him speak to Joy, Anxiety, Peaceful Nature, Curiosity, Grief, etc to set a dialog back and forth. Or here's a prompt: Happiness, where are you? — let Happiness answer."

Post your poem on our February 2017 padlet.  All contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration on Friday, February 24th, and one lucky participant will win a personalized copy of her latest novel-in-verse from Atheneum Books/Simon & Schuster:






10 comments:

  1. Wonderful, Linda! I love how you took the challenge one step further and gave Resolute not only a face, but a story.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh, I love the ending, Linda. She is self-possessed, at least in the photo. You've "painted" the girl with your poetry just as the photographer did with the camera.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Linda perfectly captured that enigmatic girl in the photo!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Linda, I love this portrait in words. I can imagine the story around this young girl. "No giving away the dance inside" is a perfect ending.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love the last two lines as well! So perfectly fitting of the girl!

      Delete
  5. What a wonderful piece. I was drawn right in.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is fabulous, Linda! Beautifully crafted with wonderful images and word choice and what an ending!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love your two closing lines, they are perfect for resolute.
    "no giving away
    her dance inside."

    ReplyDelete