The Dance Performance by Charise Hoge

A world where walls collapse 
to wings, stage left and stage right. 
Lights obscure the watchers who
become, collectively, a seated sun.

We warm to you and make offerings,
raise our hearts from their sheathings.
Exposed in the repose of a curve
or twist that turns to fate. A flub 

integrates like coarse salt finely ground 
into ocean pulsing from the marley 
floor. We are swept by purling currents 
repeatedly, hurled into place to balance 

on pinnacles of rock. Devoted to landing 
without calcifying, our poses refashioned 
by another surge through the floorboards. 

Ovation is dawn rising upon us. 
Your applause echoes within the shells 
of our bodies well after curtain calls.