"When Did You Stop Dancing?"

The busy daytime crash drives into your free night and intrudes yet again
A job lot of heavy printed fingers strangle your relaxed tie and shapes it into a noose
The tightening of taxis, computers and people begin to form throat baddies in all of your dreams
When was it that you became this adult and stopped living another life?
Are you now someone that you do not recognise?
So who can you be now?

We used to laugh off the awaiting nightmares long before they could be a problem
We used to sing at the top of bad singing voices just to scare away all of bubbling trouble
And the records would be played and a twirled shuffle came into place to refuse the knives and lies
Nothing stood in the way of our own time to get away
So tell me when did you stop dancing?

Through the door comes the rumble of an all important deadline that tears into a tired mind that only wants escape
The breaks and the dinnertimes spent daydreaming of even a couple of hours at home
They are ripped to a hundred pieces when all you can think is: when exactly did a deadline become all important?
And when did you become this thing that replaced his blood and passion with coffee and late meetings?
So are you now someone that we won't recognise?
Then where can you go next?

We would always check the charts like we were obsessed with the results of promotion and TV appearances
We broke our ankles that bleed from performing off our bed that was pretending to be a stage
We even screamed through our dangerous streets when a certain song was played from a nearby open window
We could cope with the bad times because I can’t remember my life before Blondie arrived...

These things kept us going with arms double speed and body moving
So tell me when did you stop dancing?

 

 

 

Reviews

[Amy Lou]

These things cross my mind on a daily basis; you have put it all together so beautifully, Steven.
I feel privelaged to have read such a deep, moving and realistic piece. Thank you.

In the end, such bitterness settles and robs some of their dreams, freedom and will to truly LIVE... or as you put it; dance.

Makes me want to rip out of my skin and run down the street singing "Rapture" at the top of my lungs! Hehe

I loved the lines, "We used to laugh off the awaiting nightmares long before they could be a problem
We used to sing at the top of bad singing voices just to scare away all of bubbling trouble"...

That IS how it use to be isn't it? How melancholy. I miss it, desperately.

We CAN get it back, you know...

::smiles::
Amy Lou

[T. L. O'Neal]

This is a very deep piece and it made me stop and think. Seems now we live in the past in our minds because the future looks so bleek. Very good piece, I think I'll study on it some more. T

[Angelheaded Hipster]

When was it that you became this adult and stopped living another life?
Are you now someone that you do not recognize?
So who can you be now?


This reminds me of my mother. She used to be sooo much fun to be with when I was a kid. Now all she does is work, work, and more work. She doesnt have fun anymore. I think she forgot how.
I try to take some time out of my day to laugh, to tell a silly joke...I don't want to end up bitter over a life that I sacrificed just so I can have new expensive shiny things....
thank you so much for sending this my way...

[Gary H]

That's got me thinking now. I can remember the good old days, the freedom to express yourself however you felt, to dance and sing and all those good things - now they all have faded and we are left wondering, casting our minds back in your poem. Whatever lies ahead those days have passed forever but maybe you have given some hope.....
Great write

[R. Gene MacDonald]

Yeah...I liked this one because it really states the way that world is today. Everybody has stopped dancing, and its very depressing. Childhood is such a nice time, because we were always able to let go, and this is a nice poem that reminds us that we should and still can. Good job sir!

[EVERYTHINGyoucantelltoS..]

We used to laugh off the awaiting nightmares long before they could be a problem
We used to sing at the top of bad singing voices just to scare away all of bubbling trouble
And the records would be played and a twirled shuffle came into place to refuse the knives and lies
Nothing stood in the way of our own time to get away
So tell me when did you stop dancing?

wow, i absolutely love this...getting caught up in what seems so important and losing what made them themselves, its really sad, but you made the past seem so entertaining that you wonder why anyone would switch to early morning coffee and late night meetings over screaming over played songs just because you could. I love the lines above me, they just, well...make a lot of sense in regards to the fact that they made time stand still for a second...and make you remember your own past. The title tied it all in as well, in a clever manner of relating two things that wouldnt have clicked otherwise....lovely.