Rehearsal by Joseph Mills
When they enter the studio,
the dancers drop their bags
by the wall mirrors
so as they stretch it looks
as if they’re lying among
their possessions
then their bodies rise
above the keys and coats
phones and packs
and they become
disencumbered
until all that tethers them
is gravity and reflection.
Joseph Mills has published six collections of poetry, including “Exit, pursued by a bear” which consists of poems triggered by stage directions in Shakespeare. His book “This Miraculous Turning” was awarded the North Carolina Roanoke-Chowan Award for Poetry for its exploration of race and family.