First Pointe Shoes

A shiny pink, fitted shoe,
with a flat platform for balance.
Silky smooth ribbons
with firm soles.

Deceptively beautiful they
cause bitter pain.
Worn in now, the pain
doesn’t bother me anymore.

Something so delicate
can be so supporting.
and make you look so elegant
even though you’re crumbling inside.
You have to give your full strength
for perfect balance.

I hear the tapping,
reminds me of dance class.
Dancing on my toes--
it's life for me.