The Dance

Illumination comes only


     From the far side of the room,


A faintest glint of yellow


     Amidst the blackness and the gloom.


No thoughts or feeling left


     Except anticipation so pure;


Let the music play—


          Whilst they stand now,


     Dance, they shall, soon. 





His touch on her, a delicate caress


     Upon her skin;


Cradled, she is, gently


     Like a fragile figurine.


And as she lay her head upon


          his chest,


     He held her close;


The circle closed by their embrace


     Became, to them, the world. 





The first of many notes play on,


     A song from long ago,


A lullabye of broken promises


     And bitter loss;


So soft, and yet it scratched the scabs


     Of wounded memories,


And flared the pain of hurts


     She most not want to reminisce. 





He raised her face, to his surprise,


     Tears welled from her eyes;


The most sincere and honest gesture


     In a place of feigns and lies.


Should he, could he comfort her?


     —no, she pushed away,


Mumbled an excuse, as if ashamed,


     And left in haste.





A mystery of life, up to this day,


     He can’t digress,


How he found admiration


          —attraction?—


     in that moment of her weakness.


Is it compassion? Is it pity?


     Is it love that’s doomed to fail?


‘Cause if it is, oh,


     the consequences it entails. 





It’s closing time, last call for


     Goodnight kiss before they part;


Tomorrow comes to sell love


     To another’s waiting arms.


So in a day or two, what’s been today


     Won’t ever matter,


For when the music stops


     Then the dance is truly over.