Dance of Life

instep, outstep, 'round and 'round
missing steps, flipping forward
in the pattern, then back
spinning so quickly
it's joyous, yet terrifying
laughing so hard
I'm almost crying
lost, dizzy, disoriented
somehow this dancing
left the past behind
a few moments of realization
but I can't quite remember
how I got so far away
from where I started, from who I was
the missed steps, the pitfalls
trampled feet and different partners
handed down the line
of hands which hold me
yet control me
until I dance alone
the centre of the crowd
is now my home
I gyrate wildly and differently
a non-conformist pattern
watched with wonder and dismay
wondering who I might be
for now I only dance for me
and make the steps up a
as I go along
no pattern to follow
no need to belong
I hold out my hands
to those too shy to dance
and let them feel the magic
of the crazy steps I step
and I know that each partner
joins me in my dance
but each step in different
from the next
each dance is better than the last
dancing on in life
remembering, but moving on
from my past

ily, 1998