"A blog is to a writer what a canvas is to an artist." ~ Colleen Redman

The Last Dance

When the soul asserts
its right of way
it leads the dance

Grief and honoring
are the blood sisters
that braid the steps

They slow-dance through loss
hold the symmetry of paradox
and for the sake of artful fate
are moved towards transcendence

When the soul takes the lead
there’s a deep delving
There’s a widening horizon
with the narrowing of life

There’s a fading of resistance
with the diminishing of endurance
There’s a honing of timing
a falling into place

________Colleen Redman / Poets and Storytellers United/dVerse Poets Pub

14 Responses | Add your Own

  • 1 Rosemary Nissen-Wade:

    Nicely said! I am getting an inkling of this, too.

  • 2 Jim:

    I like the last verse, the old folk sit in the rockers on the porch and watch the young, very young in their play. Do they wish they could get on their knees and play? I supposed not, they are too tired.
    BTW, I am old but still move around and walk, slowly and with a cane, to the mail box.
    ..

  • 3 Magical Mystical Teacher:

    When things fall into place, I believe that what’s at work is grace.

  • 4 Magaly Guerrero:

    Indeed! The soul, the spirit, the will… can open much wider path than the body alone. The soul is enormous and powerful, and has the ability to fit anywhere (it wants).

  • 5 Helen:

    Aging, letting go, holding on, the ride is magic. Your poem is beautiful, Colleen.

  • 6 Helen:

    Be still my heart!! I love that man! Thank you for sharing him, Colleen!

  • 7 Rajani:

    There’s a widening horizon
    with the narrowing of life… that is so perceptive and beautifully said.

  • 8 ain:

    This is so real…reminds me so much of the last scene in the film Zorba the Greek, where after tragedy, Anthony Quinn dances on the beach. Your poem has that same gut-wrenching realism.

  • 9 Su-sieee! Mac:

    It’s scary to let go but oh how wonderful when I do. I wonder if that’s what death will be, when I let go completely to my soul taking charge for always.

  • 10 Reena:

    Thought provoking and intense poem. Especially the lines

    They slow-dance through loss
    hold the symmetry of paradox
    and for the sake of artful fate
    are moved towards transcendence

  • 11 Xenia Tran:

    Beautifully written Colleen, I especially love
    ‘There’s a widening horizon
    with the narrowing of life’

  • 12 Yvonne Osborne:

    Perfect example of a list poem, methinks. And I love the last four lines, the falling into place.

  • 13 dsnake1:

    the soul is a powerful entity. your poem reminds us of that.

  • 14 Sanaa Rizvi:

    Love this especially; “They slow-dance through loss
    hold the symmetry of paradox and for the sake of artful fate.” 💘💘

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