The Dance Hall                                 5/10/1999

We gather
like gregarious geese
flocking in happy anticipation.

Sway, swivel, swing to the rhythm
and
move to the beat.
Step, step, step to the side
then
click our feet.

Satin streams shimmer
under chandeliers.
Silken waists glimmer
with glowing desire.
Long lines of mermaids
in seductive grace,
Reflections rippling
on golden varnish.

Hands couple, repel.
Bodies approach, retreat.
Reluctant waves,
on the inviting beach.

Covetous fingers
coil, uncoil;
Snake upwards
and
burst in slender bloom.

Eyes travel,
leaving feet aground.
Fickle, hungry bees
flitting, sucking in sweet yearnings.

Bodies entwine, whirl,
their motion streaking flashes of light
in the dark mellow hall,
dark except for the lights,
hurried strokes
on a Degas canvas.
Flames of passion
leaving gentle embers
that flicker
in torpid, viscid stillness.

We dance because we cannot rest.
The music feeds our legs.
We dance until we cannot dance.
Or no one is left on the floor.
We wait because we don't want to leave.
We leave when we can't wait any more.

As the knees sink lower
with unacknowledged fatigue,
And the music winds down
one tempo at a
time,
When your world
slowly, slowly,
meanders
to a
stop,
How would you like to leave?