Martyr's Waltz

Inspired by a John Mayer song.

I've got my best dress on, love. 
My hair is tamed and my eyes are sparkling. 
You look dashing in your suit, 
And I could kiss the blush in your cheeks. 

Your hand feels like it was made for mine. 
I can't dance, but you make me feel 
Like I'm a lioness perched on a branch.

Spin as the music plays.
Perhaps we look a bit like glass dolls,
Wound up and commanded to dance again.

I think the pianist knows a secret;
There’s a black look in his eye. 

The music, once soft and innocent,
Takes on a frantic staccato.
The floor of this ballroom begins to tremble. 
Spiderlike cracks race up the columns,
And the paint on the ceiling begins to melt,
The angels’ smiles becoming distorted. 

But we dance. 

The chandelier crashes in a shrieking ball of fire, 
The windows implode with a terrific scream. 
Flames leap up the walls,
Devouring all in their path. 

But we dance. Slowly. 

We are the only two in this rotting world. 

With a shuddering sigh, the ceiling collapses. 
Wreckage is heaped at our feet. 
The magnificent ballroom is a magnificent mess, 
Something grand now defeated. 

Ashes swirl in the wind, and the fire is still hungry.
The pianist hung himself from a rafter. 
Rain begins to fall upon our heads. 

Our gazes are locked, we are shackled by oblivion,
And we dance on through the fire. 

Author's Note

Inspired by John Mayer's "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room." Hope you enjoyed. Leave thoughts please.

Reviews

[Elie Marie]

love this. love how you ended it.

[Tinotenda Nyevedzanai]

""I can't dance, but you make me feel
Like I'm a lioness perched on a branch." - I'm not sure this says what you want it too...

"With a shuddering sigh, the ceiling collapses.
Wreckage is heaped at our feet.
The magnificent ballroom is a magnificent mess,
Something grand now defeated. " - Fantastic verse really beautiful.

Overall I love the imagery and intensity of this poem it's full of passion and decay in a most beautiful way well written thanks for sharing - ATC

[Coyote Poetry]

The powerful description led the reader to place of turmoil and the dance. I was surprised and liked the way you led to the very good ending. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[Nessie_AJ]

This piece is one of those breathtaking pieces that tend to stay with the reader, and for that, well done. It would be awesome to see what the secret was.

[Jerald Infant Jeyarethi..]

Ashes swirl in the wind, and the fire is still hungry...
After reading this I feel starved and ever hungry to read on more to this write...
But alas!!!
Rain begins to fall upon my head.

Sorry for using your own words to compliment your writing, cause I couldn't muster words of my own to review this wonderful piece:)

[Haeshin]

I love the imagery. It brings out the drama in every line.

[Jerome F Knox III pseud..]

You are amazing how you can present such dark hues with razor sharp details that are not gory but have that macabrely effect that draws you in. Shakespeare could take lessons from you.

[MomzillaNC]

Brilliant imagery and a really gripping write. They dance on while the world crumbles around them, unable to part them even to the last. You created such vivid word pictures and deliver a sweeping, cinematic vision.

[Falling Leaf.]

Thank you, I appreciate your thoughts. :)

[MomzillaNC]

yw :)

[R Smith]

I rate this as brilliant, its like a dream that turns into a nightmare, it could make a great horror story, that's a compliment by the way I love horror, the last half of the poem is stunning thanks for this :)

[Falling Leaf.]

Thank you, Richard!

[dan]

Falling Leaf, your use of vivid imagery and beautiful word flow make this a total winner. Your brief forays into abstract word combinations is refreshing, to say the least. I am bookmarking your page and will read some more. Very nicely done, loved it.
I'm new to WC and need to learn how to do friend requests; no directions anywhere on the site. That's probably to best way to get your name out there. It'd be great if you visit and read one of mine. Thanks very much! take care...

[Falling Leaf.]

Absolutely, I will drop by and say hello. :) Welcome to the cafe, my friend, and thank you for the thoughts!