Music Box Dancer

• Gemma Loriso, Grade 8, Chisholm Catholic College
• Poetry
• 2011

Finalist in the 'Honoured Writers of 2011' competition

The lid opens and the music begins
The ballerina twirls, hair dancing in the wind
Her face is fixed in a pleasant smile
But you can hear her sigh every once in a while
The key keeps turning even though she wants to stop
Slower she turns, hoping the lid will drop
The glowing white blinds one's eyes
Like the blanket of blue that is the daytime skies
The lid slowly begins to close
The relief on the little ballerina's face shows
And just as she thinks the lid will slam shut
A little girl runs by and pulls it back up
The tinkling music, like windchimes, plays
On her tiny pointe shoes the ballerina stays
I look to the ceiling, up so high
And pray for the little ballerina that is I