The Little Ballerina

by Susan Isla Tepper


who became an American, officially,
a few years back
went to visit her Mama
who still lives in Russia.
The little ballerina, adopting
American ways,
wasn’t easily deterred by
autocracy run amok
like the pigeons in New York City.
Americans can say things
out on the street
without fear of being arrested and
jailed. The little ballerina
was sent away
some 700 miles from the capitol.
She has one small window
in her cell, a sink
with cold water,
one cold shower a week.
The lights in her cell
turned up 24/7.
The little ballerina has days of hope
and days of despair, says
her boyfriend pleading on TV.
They gave her 20 years.
She seems all but forgotten.

* * * * *

"The Little Balllerina" was first published in Galway Review (April 2024) with illustration "Joy" by Judith A. Lawrence https://thegalwayreview.com/2024/04/08/susan-isla-tepper-judith-a-lawrence-the-little-ballerina/

Susan Isla Tepper is a widely published writer in all genres, and the author of twelve books and two stage plays currently in some form of production which changes periodically according to the covid stats. Her latest novel titled ‘Hair of a Fallen Angel’ was just published by Spuyten Duyvil Books (September 2024). www.susantepper.com

Judith A. Lawrence was the editor/publisher of Lilly Press and River Poets Journal for several decades. She is also a prolific painter, and writer of fiction, memoir, and poetry. Originally from Philadelphia, PA, she now resides in Florida. She has published five chapbooks of poems, written a volume of short stories, and a recent memoir titled “Point of Comfort.” She is currently completing a murder/mystery novel and a book of short poems containing her watercolors, under her nom de plume Juniper Rue.