I ask softly, not wishing to startle the frail little girl.
My dear, you are but a shell!
What’s happening?
Come on, please take my hand.
That’s it. We can go slowly,
One foot at a time,
let’s dance together.
But, she can’t.
Her pillows cling to month old tears,
every inch of skin is bound tightly to bedsheets that haven’t been spun round in daisies for a while.
Instead, she opens up her duvet and invites me in to join
She says her dancing days are done
So let’s just lie here for a minute or more
But I know there’s a song
I don’t remember the bass line
And I can’t hold a tune to save my life
But when I find it
and I know I will.
She will dance once more