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Dance

On scarred green corduroy couches, lined with age, sighing under my weight-

Like bearded old men, releasing ages of wearied wisdom, 

Slipping in their sleep-

In rooms wreathed in smoke, wafting between breaths of laughter and exhale

And somehow beautiful, electricity in the music that shallows me out

And haunts.

I see the wooden floor, again, as you lead me, my feet moving to their own beat

Pound, pound, my heart and my shoes, 

Do I know what’s happening?

And the rhythm I have is my own, but you don’t mind.  Two hands grasp mine, warm with 

sweat

Restraining, I have no escape, I breathe but I don’t know how.

Can I meet your eyes?

Two black holes, a vortex, pulling me into the tornado and the storm,

And the calmness in the middle, intense as it sparkles and shimmers in clarity,

Fading out cat-calls and undertones of despair.

Fading me into you, dissolving me through layers of dermis and epidermis 

soaking silently through cotton and fear

A puddle on your now-closed eyelids, wrinkly in determination

 smoothing out in waves of hope.

And then –you’re here, I feel 

Shaky confusion, slippery thrill, wet and winsome glory

Searching, and finding -so I thought-

And sudden twists and turns

Do you know where you’re going?

And then I feel it, the smile, maybe you won’t

It grows inside of me and gives birth, to a tiny laugh

In high falsetto, notes dancing across a page

Barred inside snow-white fields, but exploding with mirthful mischief just the same. 

So am I, and you may imprison me, 

But I sing “in my chains like the sea”.*



*from Dylan Thomas’s “Fern Hill”

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  1. Date: 7/30/2009 8:06:00 AM

    such passion! Light & Love

  1. Date: 6/4/2009 12:16:00 PM

    beautifully written poem

  1. Date: 4/26/2009 11:08:00 AM

    Such vivid imagery! This is a wonderful poem! ~Trudy~

  1. Date: 3/25/2009 9:39:00 PM

    One of my favorite poems on the site...the reference is ingenious.

  1. Date: 3/14/2009 10:23:00 PM

    WOW! Such language... such vivid expression and detail. I love your Dylan quote and some of your phrasing that calls him to mind... BRAVO Micaela! and thanks for your Soup messages! I am most grateful... Best wishes, Keith

  1. Date: 2/27/2009 6:00:00 PM

    Micaela - Congrats on placing in John's contest - God Bless, MJ

  1. Date: 2/27/2009 7:22:00 AM

    YAY Micaela!!! Congratulations on your awesome big win in John's contest! Good for you! Love, Shar

  1. Date: 2/27/2009 7:22:00 AM

    Wow! This was a real winning poem...Well done! ~Congratulations Micaela...you made the scene come alive! ~ Carrie

  1. Date: 2/27/2009 6:57:00 AM

    congrats on your win.. spirit and soul, constance

  1. Date: 2/19/2009 10:43:00 AM

    Micaela, vivid images. I especially liked "notes dancing across a page" and "music that shallows me out." Well done! Love, Carolyn

  1. Date: 2/18/2009 4:16:00 AM

    i enjoyed reading this piece and i love this..."lined with age, sighing under my weight", more please! thanks for sharing... Ernesto