To dance another dance
Another twirl, another spin
Another dip, another bow
Another tale to be in.
To laugh another laugh
And make another smile
To share a funny joke
And feel free for a while.
To sing another song
Even if a dirge
To sing it all night long
Till a soul feels the purge.
Let the dreams be kept warm
And the fire warmer still
On the cold winter’s night
Where pain breaks the will.
A Soul's Walk 
Oh my gosh–this is seriously good; I need to print it out (easier to read with almost-60 yr old eyes). Thank you for what you write–and thank you for your loyalty in reading my work. Your comment today, that you see I’m continuing to improve it, makes me wonder if it seemed “sloppy” when you first began reading–you know how insecure “artists” are. Any chance you could take time to clarify for me? I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t appreciate your thoughts! God bless you today.
I have just noticed that your poems seem “better.” I hope that my poetry doesn’t stay where it is but expands and grows and always love to see when other’s work appears to be doing so.
I don’t remember ever thinking your work seemed sloppy, but then again, that is quite a relative term (“sloppy”).
I have this sister who used to shanghai me to go shopping when she was baby-sitting me and she would ask me awkward questions because she knew I would answer without thinking (because I was a child, a boy, and very annoyed to be hanging out by the women’s dressing room). So she would come out with something on and ask questions like, “do you think this makes my butt look big?” and “does this dress make me look fat?” I’m sure she doesn’t even remember most of those times and I don’t remember if she asked those actual questions– but you get the idea I’m sure. I always thought it was funny but everyone has their own insecurities.
I trust that even Seamus Heaney does not want to stagnate and write the same old poems over and over again (and he has not). Although sometimes there is little real distinction between “I like this better,” and “I think this is better work,” I still know that it matters to embrace change. Only the perfect need not change. And truly, only God is changeless.
I really appreciate you taking time to give me a thoughtful response–and I so love the sister story (is that what my question sounded like? no, don’t answer!!) I wonder if the irony is that my poems seem “better” to you now, because I’m more relaxed with the blog thing. I was so stressed in the beginning–I’m amazed I didn’t just delete it after 2 weeks. I’m an obsessive perfectionist, and to get started, I was posting work from decades ago–so I was polishing and reworking everything to death! Lately, I’ve been busy writing new stuff–and throwing the old ones in here and there–and due to a sufficiently good response from our community, I’ve gained enough confidence to settle back and stop stressing. Perhaps you like some of the old and new ones I write, equally. As you say, it’s healthy to embrace change–and strive to continually improve. But the day it’s no longer fun for me, I guess I’ll move to another venue. Thanks again for the chat–how are you coming with the music score?
I’ll let you know when I have something.
This is a wonderful piece with such a great rhythm!
Why thank you jadedheart.
Many the January night in past years, past decades, when I had to sing a soulful dirge to cleanse with purging my heartaches. Praise Be to God, now I have truly LET GO of those old aches, refuse to give a perching spot to any new crows of desolation on a single branch or twig of my soul-tree!
There are so many metaphors and so little time…