Dazzle of dances


    The floors and fears


    I used to entertain


    are now my playground.


    Watch me spin and dip,


    smile brighter than Mom’s new china.


    My partner and I compete like tigers,


    stripes dazzling


    the carefully watching forest and fields.


    Almost every Tuesday you’ll find me there,


    flying to country swing,


    moving my hips like Latinos do—It’s all in the knees.


    Maybe I’ll find him here, maybe the next partner


    who moves in time with me,


    teeth gleaming, hair shining. I dance


    like others breathe, taking courage from the bass


    sauntering through the tiles underfoot,


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    trembling like the world before a major earthquake.


    Three, four, dip. Swing me right, rip me back in


    like a yoyo. Behind, in front.


    One two three four, jump, drop


    with force like a bullet. The dazzle of dance


    dulls the damage of the dreary,


    hoping for a love that lasts longer than three minutes.


    Skipper school


    Shipshape,


    if only the boards


    stopped inviting water through


    for a drink and a leisurely chat.


    If only the windows would open enough


    to let the sun’s reflection through.


    If only the sails didn’t tear


    at every breath of wind.


    Pound the hammer again,


    straighten nails sharper than cruel tongues.


    Rip the board again, fasten the floors


    tighter than the cracks between doors and doorways.


    Captain to one,


    one helm gently spinning,


    one chair cold and open.


    Comfort in redundancy.


    But my heart argues with the mind—the Captain makes the voyage.


    The Captain fears the voyage.


    The Captain voyages through fears.


    Looking for you.