dancer 95

violin bow cu through gelatin
as outstretched arm
folding it under her chin
tremor of strings felt in her loins
of love beyond passion
love beyond denial,
for this man much older
who watched damp eyed
each point and step
holding pose for sulfur flash
yet moonlight and day
better illuminated
caught in a dark place
yet so natural
she would ascend
imprinted and recognized
after camera covered away
she danced
knowing now also caught
on paper in charcoal
it may of been the end
but she reached to the future
moving expressively
beyond fantasy

Danseuse ajustant sa bretelle, 1895-96, Edgar Degas

Degas self portrait 1895

Ernest Chausson

Helen Hahn performs Ernest Chausson Poeme Op 25