meanwhile i keep dancing

i almost died the other day.

as i sat at my desk
i almost died.

my inner anguish choked me
as i thought of all the nights
without someone to hold
and the incessant pointlessness
of so many of the things we do.

i almost died
with the thought of having to live
the rest of my life.

i gazed at that closed door
and vaguely wondered
where the damn window of happiness was
then i looked towards the wall
and saw plastered concrete eggshell
covered with a single piece of art:

"I get up. I fall down. Meanwhile, I keep dancing."

i recall the falls
but for the life of me
couldn't remember the last time
i had truly danced

and with that thought
i almost died.

and as the squealing sound of tires
screeched from outside the building
i stared at that near-empty, windowless wall
and wondered who would die today
and when that crash
would come.

i waited for metal to meet metal
and for the morbid opportunity
to walk outside
and see the scene.

the wait was so long
i considered dying
to pass the time.

the tire squeals kept sounding
and the acceleration kept increasing
and i vaguely wondered
what the hell is going on...

then came the crash
and i thought 'yup, there it is'
as concrete blocks exploded
and bricks were thrown.
plaster dust covered the room
and the sound of my screams
surprised me.

i was anticipating the crash
yet not expecting the crash
to be me.

and amid all those thoughts of dying
i thanked god
i was alive.

Reviews

[Creepy Swine Guy]

Youe poems are always so far above me that I struggle to understand. Is the crash metaphorical, symbolizing the death of a relationship or the coming of one of life's many crisises? I guessed relationship because of the use of the closed door. Are you pointing to the hopelessness that we feel at those times when you use the words death, died or dying? The message that I took from this poem, that I read in the final stanza, was that "This too shall pass."

Was I in the ballpark?

[Sean Allen]

Woa,
This is powerful and beautiful and wonderful and� well you get the idea.
I Loved every word just the way you wrote it.
By the way, when you refer to God as a person you use a capital �G�
Caesar thanked the gods, one of whom was named Zeus, but you thanked God. You use a small �g� to say that you thanked a god above, whose name was Jesus or Jehovah, etc.

[MarcZw]

Another poem that has merit! Who am I to say so, but I would have left the last stanza out. You do seem to know how to communicate an experience!

[J. Thomas Parker]

"i waited for metal to meet metal
and for the morbid opportunity
to walk outside
and see the scene"

i love the flow of this piece.

[Miss Spiritual Tramp Of..]

this is quirky and clever. i liiiike it

[Whirl]

it's a kinda rollercoaster of emotions. so many can relate to this, can actually 'feel' what you're saying.
this is a wonderful piece, and i enjoyed reading it.

[Anhedonia 1349]

I just reread this again. Definitely a lesson on how to live your life.

Still a favorite.

[G.f. Snell Iii]

Hi Kara:
I read this twice -- the impact of it was that significant. It's hard to put a finger on why you simply hit this one out of the park. It just works -- great language, powerful emotion.

Well done.

[Rachel P. Salamone]

this is truely an amazing poem. im glad i got the chance to read this.

[Amanda]

This poem has so much meaning. I really like how you expressed isolation and loneliness.
Favorite

[Leah Simone]

i recall the falls
but for the life of me
couldn't remember the last time
i had truly danced

I hate to admit, I know exactly how this feels.
You expressed it beautifully. Well done Kara...really...this was honest and filled with emotion...It resonated with me...like a hammer on a bell. -Leah