Inward Waltz

Photo © Dawn Allynn

I am a dance with myself
Simple, complex
Flutter, quiver, shake
Movement rarely repetitious,
Nothing ever fake.
If I show it, will you know it?
Perhaps my meaning is
Not in itself an interpretation.

Here I remain indifferent.

My pageant
Is not meant for the multitude.

Regrets?
Absolutely – but only of lessons
Learned so late.

Growing is not always easy
But necessarily
Necessary.

The hardest lesson of all
Was learning to like myself in the dance.

-1982