The Rats of the Paris Opera House
by Megan Brooks
scutter across the stage floors
limbs -longed and gawky :
a petits de la rats. Stage
rats infesting the opera in
a masquerade hidden under blue
tulle. Rats with pointed shoes
shaped like the speared snouted
head which sprouted ribbons that
twirled outward like the wispy
whiskers and scaled tails of
unwanted pests. Lurking
beyond the wings in shadowy
nests stalk men of every shape
and size in sexual unrest ; hands
quiver in clamoring -capturing
the veracity of the real unwanted
guests. The ballet’s notes singe
signaling the end and the begin
ning of the interlude and secret
private minglings of
the Pas de deux: a step of two
dancing together as if in mutual
creation. A supple back is arced
over in forced submission: the bend
ing of a plié -a tutu tulle pirouettes
out in plummets -pillowing softly
around knobby knees -falling over
pale skin till it spills around ankles
- sitting blue in the wings -patient
in fearful waiting - the exchange
of monetary pleasure. Bodies
knocking into one another in begin
-ners frustration - the tip - tap -
touch of toes pointing down
ward - raising the head up
haloed in the stage lights
the last sense of innocence
crowned around the young girls
head faded into blackness as
the lights dimmed and the curtains
closed in the paris brothel house
Foyer de la danse : a night at the ballet
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