Photo of a ballerina.‘The Ballerina Praying’ by Joe Tessitore The Society March 29, 2021 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 9 Comments . The candlelight was dim and spare And Claire was there, lost in prayer And slightly swaying to and fro (She dances for Him, this I know) And I do swear that she did glow— Whence comes this light? He does bestow. . . Joe Tessitore is a retired New York City resident and poet. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. Trending now: 9 Responses Norma Okun March 29, 2021 I love the poem. I only would take the And out. It would flow like the light you are speaking about. That is only a suggestion. I still care for the poem just the way you wrote it. Reply an'ya March 29, 2021 It’s lovely Joe! an’ya Reply Panagiota Romios March 29, 2021 Joe~ breathtaking in its beauty, wrapped in utter beauty and grand simplicity. Thank you. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant March 29, 2021 Joe, this is beautiful in its brevity. There have been precious moments in my life illuminated by the very “glow” you mention. Reply Joe Tessitore March 29, 2021 Thank you all very much. Reply C.B. Anderson March 29, 2021 Nice, Joe. My own daughter was once engaged with ballet. Now she’s a mother, and the dance she dances is much more complicated than it was before, but still she is attentive to the Lord’s grace. I am humbled in her presence, and I am struck to the core by your brief poem. Reply Joe Tessitore March 29, 2021 It sounds like your daughter and Claire were cut from the same cloth. Thank you for your very touching comment. Reply BRIAN YAPKO March 29, 2021 Such a sweet, simple poem and yet a jewel — especially the last line. Reply Paul Freeman March 30, 2021 I’ve been a fan of the short poem ever since reading Wordsworth’s ‘A Slumber did my Spirit Seal’. I really liked this poem, Joe. I’d agree that removing ‘And’ before ‘slightly’. It made the poem flow better for me. The placement of the question mark halfway through the last line (followed by an answer) rather than at the end, is quite masterful and thought-provoking. Thanks for the read. Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Norma Okun March 29, 2021 I love the poem. I only would take the And out. It would flow like the light you are speaking about. That is only a suggestion. I still care for the poem just the way you wrote it. Reply
Panagiota Romios March 29, 2021 Joe~ breathtaking in its beauty, wrapped in utter beauty and grand simplicity. Thank you. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant March 29, 2021 Joe, this is beautiful in its brevity. There have been precious moments in my life illuminated by the very “glow” you mention. Reply
C.B. Anderson March 29, 2021 Nice, Joe. My own daughter was once engaged with ballet. Now she’s a mother, and the dance she dances is much more complicated than it was before, but still she is attentive to the Lord’s grace. I am humbled in her presence, and I am struck to the core by your brief poem. Reply
Joe Tessitore March 29, 2021 It sounds like your daughter and Claire were cut from the same cloth. Thank you for your very touching comment. Reply
BRIAN YAPKO March 29, 2021 Such a sweet, simple poem and yet a jewel — especially the last line. Reply
Paul Freeman March 30, 2021 I’ve been a fan of the short poem ever since reading Wordsworth’s ‘A Slumber did my Spirit Seal’. I really liked this poem, Joe. I’d agree that removing ‘And’ before ‘slightly’. It made the poem flow better for me. The placement of the question mark halfway through the last line (followed by an answer) rather than at the end, is quite masterful and thought-provoking. Thanks for the read. Reply
