Rimli Bhattacharya writes

The Danseuse’s Delight

She danced on the arterial road –

As he asked “You dance?”

“Yes I do” she replied

She danced on the arterial road –

As he asked “Are you a story teller?”

“Yes I am, I dance with stories” she replied

She danced on the arterial road –

As he asked “Are you an artist?”

“Yes I am an artist of my art” she replied

She danced on the arterial road –

As he said “I cannot hear you dancing”

“Do hide behind my shadow and hear me” she replied

She danced on the arterial road –

As he said “But shadows do lie”

“My shadow is my sorrow and sorrows don’t lie” she replied

She danced on the arterial road –

As he said “I see you in my dreams”

“I am an illusion, touch me and I will fade” she replied

She danced on the arterial road –

As he said “Be my valentine”

“I am taken” she smiled in her dance

“No you aren’t” he said softly

“I am an illusion, touch me and I will fade” she replied

“You dance?” he asked

“Yes I do” she replied

She danced on the arterial road

“I am a danseuse's delight –

I am an illusion –

I am an echo –

See my shadow –

Catch me if you can –

And I will be your valentine” she smiled  in her dance

She danced on the arterial road

He stood –

For he knew

She cannot be taken

She is an illusion, a fantasy;

She is a danseuse's delight. 

Dansa, or Setsuna no kyokusen [Dancer, or Curved Line of the Instant] -- Kobayakawa Kiyoshi

 

 Dancer IV -- Rachel Isadora