American Atheneum

Joe Wrobel

The Dance Castle: Prolepsis

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An engraving of a sleeping princess leaning against a great dragon in a castle chamber

In the tower prose drawn soft
As a pavane across the nerves
Charms the royal mind, preserves
Through dance of mannered measure
Grace, from coarser threads of pleasure.

This warrior's prize, a wrought delight
Now wrested from the stem of light
Remembers saurian domination.
Some Triassic pulse roars invitation
Constant under all the bones
And bolted keeps of these politer tones,
Curves descent into the rising line.
Its rhythms lure us down the spine,
Enthrall us in the flexing agon.

The Princess dreams the Dragon
Partner. In their nightly cave of trance
They celebrate the eldest dance,
Emblazon patterns deep, aloft.