The Dancer

Quite small there on the screen

ladies and gentlemen—

the dancer

she dances wonderfully even for the layman

fabulous stories

of transformation and death

in the theater

I know people who say

what’s this

she should dance

she should move her legs

correctly

so that it’s not only beautiful but also

looks controlled

with some knowledge behind it

as dancer and artist

she should stick to her part

My friends are right

how comforting

to express oneself in one’s own discipline

that is complete concentration

look at the ballerina

see her pensive movement

its melancholy resonance

with the minor key

her divinely held pose

see the dancer on the screen

she explains

the world between the news