Friday, March 15, 2013

There Go I, Dancing Broken



she said
she was drying out

and needed to get clean

i just held her hand
as she wept

holding her hair back
while she threw up

nearly 20 years

of the most hideous
and sobering regrets

and, like natural childbirth,
there is not much you can do

but be there

while she learns how
to nurture a new life beyond it

and remind her

even if you’re walking broken
you can learn how to dance again



Copyright © 2013 Jennifer Wagner

For Laurie's prompt at Poetry Jam:  Poetry of Dance.  And for Poets United:  The Poetry Pantry.

48 comments:

Mary said...

Oh, Jennifer, so true....a person can learn to dance again to a different beat in a new way. What a moving poem you shared here in Poetry Jam. Thank you.

ayala said...

True and inspiring..you can , she can!

Mary Ann Potter said...

I was grabbed by the title and was grabbed even tighter as I read your poem. Very well done. Rings so true.

Helen said...

... Amazing

Laurie Kolp said...

Bottoms can seem horrible, but they really are the only thing that will bring about change... and dancing will be better than ever.

Fireblossom said...

You can, it's true. I did.

Brian Miller said...

yes, you can....really nice...and so glad that you were there for her...in that moment...it is such a hard moment when you hit that point....but i am glad, so that she can start learning again...

asteria's canvass said...

there you do it again,such a different take on prompt..

Peggy said...

Very sad and so true all you can do is be there when someone has to learn to dance again.

Wayne said...

well done....thanks for sharing this

The Unknowngnome said...

And but for the grace of God...

A very tight embracing piece. Enjoyed.

GoddessChhavi said...

Sweet! And through all these hardships she has a friend to look upon so she can stay sane. Lovely words and thought!

adhi das said...

even if you’re walking broken,you can learn how to dance again...Thanks for sharing this poem..i liked it alot. GOD<3U

Janet Martin said...

...those last two lines apply to many of us so many ways. Stunning!

Anonymous said...

Powerful, compassionate, well done.

LLM Calling said...

so fantastically true and yet those who need to hear it often don't believe it

J Cosmo Newbery said...

Very powerful. There is always hope.

anthonynorth said...

Excellently deep portrayal with hope at the end.

PhotoDiction said...

I like the last two lines here - there is always hope, indeed. Especially if one has someone to simply stand beside them.

Dr. Pearl Ketover Prilik (PKP) said...

Wow! Those last 2 lines should be etched in stone! What an image! "Even if you are walking broken you can learn to dance again." bravo!

Mary said...

Visiting once more from Poetry Pantry. Truly, a stunning poem, Jennifer. Being there for a person is the best thing you could possibly do for them! This poem (and these thoughts) is a kepper.

Anonymous said...

nice poem

Lisa A. Williams said...

This is truly a magnificent poem! The last line, so full of promise, so true,
we can "learn how to dance again."

Abin Chakraborty said...

deeply moving experience of solidarity and the spirit of resilience

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Jennifer, this is a FANTASTICALLY moving poem, which tells such a sad story - so compassionate the closing lines. Spectacularly good, Jennifer. Truly moving.

Panchali said...

You never cease to amaze me, Poet! Giving hand to someone in need talks about compassion and solidarity. Beautiful...

Unknown said...

Wow... I love the last line, the whole measure of the poem... yes, you can always learn to dance again. And what a beautiful portrait of loving support. Beautiful!

Kimolisa said...

Beautifully written,

rallentanda said...

A poem filled with hope and optimism.

Audrey Howitt aka Divalounger said...

So much truth, empathy and wisdom in this Jennifer--beautiful write

Ella said...

This was so touching! Wow, I love how you ended it...hope is something we can never have enough of :D

Unknown said...

Your closing lines are very touching and very very true.

Kodjo Deynoo said...

A powerful piece with humanity and at the middle

Rosemary Nissen-Wade said...

Wow, not much to say in the face of this - you've said it all.

Optimistic Existentialist said...

Beautiffuly written. And you're right, there's not much you can do but be there...

Anunoy Samanta said...

Honestly spoken words I must say... enjoyed reading it :)
Keep Rhyming...
Cheers :)

Unknown said...

You touch me deeply with this piece about addiction and recovery and the work it takes to live sober and learn again to dance. Brilliant, this, Jennifer. Brilliant.

Justin Lamb said...

I like that this ends with hope despite the painful process.

Vanessa Higgins said...

We all wish life could be a dance, thanks for letting me know that hope exists! Beautiful.

Susan Lindquist said...

... possibly the most important dance partner there is ... the one who will hold back the hair and listen and support ... a very touching write!

ND Mitchell said...

"you can learn how to dance again" is a positive note to finish this poem on. In spite of the pain that comes before, you offer hope and for all of us, that's worth hanging onto. Thanks for the reminder :)

RMP said...

positively stunning! the opening seemed so simple, I was caught quite off guard by the weeping.

learning to dance again can be hard, but with the right support — of someone who cares — everything is possible.

Anonymous said...

The narrator's support is incredibly moving.

Even if there is no dancing by the end, the bond or lattice--however one puts it--is hugely triumphant.

Sadia Khan said...

I am learning to dance too though my legs r giving up now ....Nyc one Jennifer :)

alan1704 said...

Really lovely, learning to dance again. We all need to dance and set our souls free to express the beauty from within. Lovely poem

steveroni said...

Broken to smithereens
Dancing again
Me...understanding.
Thanks

izzy said...

The dance may happen long after- or even we see it in hindsight- but it is possible! thanks.

Buddah Moskowitz said...

As a 26 year sober person who struggles with temptation even day, I appreciate the hopefulness. Thanks Mosk