One thing I’ve been trying to write is poems about burlesque performers from the old days – the turn of the 20th century until the 1960s. I haven’t quite got there; I need a bit more research, I think. In any event I wrote this poem that sort of gets at the feeling of burlesque.

Red Burlesque by niwanotanuki
Audience sitting in the dark
anticipation
Dancer preparing in the wings
anticipation
The music starts
The curtain goes up
Sensual
Slinky
She emerges
Boldly look to audience
Coyly look away
They all know what to expect
Give them some of what they want
And some of what they never knew they wanted
Hit each musical cue with a hip
Shake it all
The audience hollers
Shaken all up
The final reveal
the beauty revealed
Always what they want
Not always what they expect
Be Lovely to Each Other,
Laura
Like this:
Like Loading...
Related