Stopping the Dance

As quiet blackness deepened
I lay awake my heart in check,
The cool night wind blew
And welcome silence grew…
_______

Unanticipated music exploded
Roused me from bed rest, 
I tiptoed to its source:
Dark sounds from downstairs, 
Nearer, higher, and louder 
Till it reached the hallway.
He grasped my hand, 
Whirled it to turn me twice, 
Held me close, went on trotting steps
Slow, quick, quick; slow, quick, quick;
Slow, slow, quick, quick...
He never gets tired, he liked the dance.
He led; I followed - his greatest joy;
In perfect timing to his bidding, 
I swayed wherever he flung me,
His steps were full of variation – 
He liked it that way;
While I only had one reaction – 
Receive his urgings.
Perfect dance he'd always say because 
It is with such ease when partner is open
That controlled movement is played.
Ungraceful dance I never liked, 
But all this time it kept me alive:
His music and diverse steps I sought
And to it I humbly swayed.
Tonight I let him led again, 
Just like the other days and nights.
The darkness of the night was strained, 
It was only the curtains that were swaying, 
To the night breeze with grace,
Stark of light peeped out from the room,
My hands and feet went frozen like ice,
I heard a different tune within, sad, weary,
But slowly roused with excitement
And anger underneath... Heated me up
Ablaze, my eyes red-stained -
He held me closer to him, and I -
Pulled myself too tight to him
He was pleased I saw it in his sated eyes 
As I meekly submitted… for the last time.

We did slow, quick, quick steps for a two 
Or more and then he let me go; I trotted
Far away from him then back to him
Without his behest, and out of rhythm
His steps were outside our dance floor…
Down the stairs...In open position he lay there, 
In his face I saw his dance - the macabre 
dance - I never liked at all. His eyes dazed –
He had his final dance with me after all. 

_____

The night was cold, yet I felt warm, and the music gone,
The curtains stopped swaying at the night winds’ prodding.

-maria
8/11/14
Copyright © | Year Posted 2014

Poem

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De La Luna Avatar
December 17, 2015 at 11:04 PM
https://usadancedallas.smugmug.com/Betsy-Lee-Ryan-Lewis-2015/n-MLT8NX/i-ZbwgMMr A poem recitation with dance interpretation.
Nunez Avatar
July 16, 2015 at 3:17 AM
As Dave said, this is riveting. There is a deeper layer here beneath the obvious. As I am not aware of the actual theme, I can only guess from what I read. Obviously it's a dream sequence of a macabre dance, as you mentioned. But the underlying message for me is that there is some kind of oppressive control that has been going on for sometime " Ungraceful dance I never liked, But all this time it kept me alive". Awesome write, my friend. Please come back if only once in a while! hugz
De La Luna Avatar
October 22, 2015 at 8:48 PM
Ah yea, the theme was about dark poetry ??
De La Luna Avatar
October 22, 2015 at 8:43 PM
My crazy lovely Kim! How could I miss your beautiful words! Thank you so much! I have written a couple of poems on here. I peep from time to time. I will be posting some more soon. ?? I will visit you.
A  Avatar
May 3, 2015 at 10:31 PM
Hija, Congratulations on your win. Thanks for the support. SKAT
Elizab Avatar
August 17, 2014 at 8:52 AM
Oh, this is beautiful, absolutely stunning. I will definitely be back to read more of your work!
De La Luna Avatar
August 17, 2014 at 8:57 PM
Thanks for stopping by, felicia, and leaving kind words. God bless you!
K. Avatar
August 16, 2014 at 11:21 AM
You sure reeled me in with this write of yours, hija-- quite the gripping read for me and I think how you tackled the subject was quite unique. Congrats on your win!
De La Luna Avatar
August 16, 2014 at 9:05 PM
Thanks for the nice comment, Pink!
A. Sharma Avatar
August 16, 2014 at 1:39 AM
Congrats on ur winning tremendous write Luna !
De La Luna Avatar
August 16, 2014 at 9:06 PM
Thank you, Dr. Upma!
Dietrich Avatar
August 15, 2014 at 11:13 PM
wow, this is very different and very dark indeed. Very symbolic. A good entry that deserved a win in this contest. congratulations.
De La Luna Avatar
August 16, 2014 at 9:06 PM
Thanks, Andrea!
A   Avatar
August 15, 2014 at 9:28 PM
Hija, glad you find ways to warm your heart... once again thank you for the reply...Linda
A   Avatar
August 15, 2014 at 8:52 PM
Hija, love this..congrats...Linda
De La Luna Avatar
August 15, 2014 at 9:18 PM
Great you love it, Linda! that warms my heart :)
Gibson Avatar
August 15, 2014 at 1:53 PM
Congratulations on your winning poem, Luna. If you have time, read mine, "Dread;" they both seem to be covering the same theme. Well done; I am glad Charlotte included it in the winners or I might not have seen it.
De La Luna Avatar
August 15, 2014 at 9:21 PM
I was to tackle bully-victims, but i ended up with this theme as they both have the same dynamics: the macabre dance..
De La Luna Avatar
August 15, 2014 at 8:40 PM
oh wow! that's nice! i will read it, Faye! Thanks!! :) God bless you!
Puddifoot Avatar
August 15, 2014 at 7:17 AM
this is indeed unsettling, and (as I read it) deals with the subject of abuse in quite a hard hitting way...I was a bit confused with the past and present tenses, but this was worthy of a placement; I liked your choice of subject matter and your approach - congrats on your win in my contest
De La Luna Avatar
August 15, 2014 at 11:17 AM
Grateful here for your appreciation of my piece, Charlotte! And yea, i have to look at this again for refinement, thanks for the kind and generous words. it means a lot. :)) God bless you!
Mehta Avatar
August 15, 2014 at 6:07 AM
Congrats on the win, Luna
De La Luna Avatar
August 15, 2014 at 11:14 AM
Thank you, Dr. Ram! :)
Yvonne Avatar
August 11, 2014 at 4:48 AM
there is a lot here to consider. makes me think. wonder how much is being said in the spaces. i really like it when i have to keep exploring a piece. make sure to get all the meat and never leave the bone behind. what an enjoyable read.
De La Luna Avatar
August 15, 2014 at 11:53 AM
Thanks, Maurice, for dropping by and leaving nice words for my piece. God bless you
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