Danseuse

There were no flowers tonight.
No standing ovation was given.
She did her best and gave them what they came to see.

But it wasn't the same. 
She felt it as she bent to untie her slipper. 
Something was ever so slightly off. 
They could smell her weakness. 
They could sniff out her fear.

She was slightly off balance. 
Her dress was slightly torn.
Her skin a bit too full. 

Yet, she did her best,
She gave them what they paid to see. 
Even if there were no flowers
And she carved out a piece of her soul.