A fire flares and flickers
As the dark embers pulse,
Keeping beat to the dancer’s
Feet twirling in a circle.
He hesitates to speak,
To throw his slow mind
Into relief against her quick
Laughter rippling the room.
His words bind him to earth
Like roots tangling underground;
Hers flutter like butterflies
Rising as one from flowers.
Flames, flowers, roots and embers
Turn, and turn, and turn again.
(January 30, 2018)
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