Ellis Elliott is a ballet teacher and writer in Juno Beach, Florida. She is currently pursuing an MFA at Queens University in Charlotte, NC. Her work can be found in Neologism Poetry Journal, Literary Mama, and upcoming in Evening Street Review.
TEACHING BALLET TO CHILDREN ON ZOOM DURING A PANDEMIC
First, you wait.
You wait while you watch
the ceiling fan of Namyla’s
living room. From somewhere,
you hear a woman’s voice trying
to get her daughter’s spindled legs
into a pair of too-small pink tights
finally found in the clothes hamper
beside a single ballet shoe. She’s ready,
you hear, as Namyla’s left side only
comes in the frame.
You observe the miniature portrait
gallery of limber, loose limbs
ready to spring, catch hold
of a ceiling-fan blade, and fly
from four walls and away. I ask all
to press their hands to mine
on the screen at the same time.
Can you feel me? they ask.
Yes, I say.
Yes I can.
