Dance

DANCE

Everything in me yearns to express, express, express:
turn outward my inner uniqueness,
fling out into the world all my eccentricity,
particularity, individuality.

Dance, dance, dance !

I see myself spinning with light energy,
one leg out to the side, arms up,
like a maple wing twirling down from the trees,
scurrying across the ground, lifted by the wind,
buoyed by the Earth's warm joy.

I want to dance!
Fling my body and spirit
( one, really, when in tune with oneself )
into the air,
leap and twirl and bend
in response to whatever inner movements
propel my arms, my legs, my frame.

Leaping like deer across the stream,
horses across the hedge,
and turning, turning
this way, that way, scarcely pausing.

Will I dance, ever?
Will I find a place wherein to try myself?
And will it be something I can show to others,
or will I even want to?
Maybe it will be just for me,
a private exercise of bodily meditation?

I must speak, that's all I know.
I must speak.

And now I feel a quieting,
as if that were a great crescendo,
ending the movement,
asserting the final truth.
Time now for rest, then action.

Speak, my dear one, speak!
Find your voice, your wings,
your dancing shoes, and go!

The woods await your steps,
you have things to say,
dancing on the leaves, touching the trees,
you and the woods.

Yes, dancer, DO IT !

I shout this to you with fire and intense urging.
DO IT !. Stop dawdling.
Can't you see what you're here for,
what the world needs from you?
VISION !

Wipe out the long darkness of chaos,
crimson beliefs, and untimely belongings.
Nourish UNWORLDLY belongings,
Dancer !

Feb.1986