Heels
touch
legs straight
feet are hands
a clock saying two
the long middle fingertips meet
arms stretch up diamond-shaped over head held erect
muscles abdominal pectoral gluteal (the chest stomach and bum)
flex together with calves and thighs
I rise on my toes
no wobble
amazed
I
grin

Not
the
done thing
I was told
boy ballerinos
my father taught me to tap dance
when I was little - grandma showed me how to Charleston
back then grown men - real men - were allowed to bop, to shuffle-waltz or do show-off jiving.
At school, boys joined girls for shy chaperoned folk dancing
Scottish reels even Gay Gordons.
I didn't miss out
on ballet
now I'm
en
pointe