Failure's Hope


Painted with the shadow
of another’s art she prepares
to feel the spotlight’s heat.

You can’t attempts to weary her faith,
but she has climbed each stone
of failure’s stairway to reach
this last chance for success.

Risking it all on her toes
she stretches each muscle into grace
while she awaits the curtain call
to unwind her nerves into Swan Lake.


©Susie Clevenger 2013

Kerry at Real Toads has challenged us with the poetic inspiration of TS Elliot to write a prelude. Kerry's Wednesday Challenge ~ Prelude

Comments

Steve King said…
A great setting of the scene here. Nice performance details--we're ready for what's coming.
Marian said…
i kinda wanna say break a leg after reading this! lovely, Susie.
Kay L. Davies said…
Awesome, Susie, and the work the dancers put into the performance is awesome, too. Thanks for the prelude.
K
Maggie Grace said…
A word missing in first line of second stanza? Otherwise love your writing and feeling that this is the final chance.
Grace said…
Is it her last dance or not ~ You set the stage for the dancer's grace ~
Anonymous said…
I love this! You've perfectly set the stage with her nervousness.
Peggy said…
Indeed a prelude. Good scene setting with atmosphere and feeling. I especially like "I can'ts attempting to steal her faith."
Ella said…
Well done...I love the stage you set and I can so relate to the risk!
;D
rashmenon said…
I read it once till the end and then read it again and loved it all the more :) Esp love 'painted with the shadow of another's art'.
Vandana Sharma said…
One should never stop believing and always give his /her best shot.
Although I'm not a dancer, I can relate to the nervousness and being perched on the edge of performing not quite knowing the outcome. Nice.
Kerry O'Connor said…
This certainly creates the moment before the main act is about to begin. Here is a mood of uncertainty, and the strong sense of perseverance needed to attain a personal goal.
hedgewitch said…
And now we wait for the curtain to go up, but in many ways, perhaps the real story is in the prelude's perseverance. Lovely work, Susie.
Can I sit down now?
Phew. Every muscle hurts.
Dave King said…
Excellent stage setting, a splendid response to the prompt.