10 minutes behind the curtains
I probe the mural on the stage
painted a golden-yellow setting sun
mountains of reddish-brown rocks,
bones of my ancestor Jacob,
resting his head on a pillow of stone,
a Dreamer
imagining angels on ladders
like dancers reaching arms up, up, up
in the sky pointing legs down, down, down
to the earth
suddenly my toes drumming
palms sweating
knowing everyone will see me
I glance up
at my troupe of Eighth Graders
waiting in the wings
grasping tambourines broken things can catch light
stretching feet like stalled horses
ready to gallop through the desert
Mrs. Haradi turns up the music
blasting from speakers
Al-Tera Avde Ya’acov, Have No Fear Jacob My Servant
my world feels safe standing beside Jill
keeper of secrets
I lead
our circle of friends
flashing my lean body
a breeze spirals through my brown curls
step-hop rattle twist leaping onto the stage
flying higher and higher
towards the Dreamer
I sway
my hips side-to-side
in my red-sashed, white tunic
Shame untwists itself
Anger melts into huge puddles
reflecting golden-sunlight
I am
every single thing
Imaginable imaginable imaginable
