Dancing on the Edge of Dark

Living life in the fast lane catches up to us all

Dancing on the edge of dark

I’m so close to the edge

One misplaced step…

I’d be better off dead

 

The cold stench of numb

Sweeps in with the fog

An invasion of confusion

Rolls me like a rogue log

 

Barely clinging to what’s left

Of this so called life

Darkness beckons

As if it were light

 

Dancing on the edge of dark

I’m so close to the edge

One misplaced step…

Oh dear God

I’m dead.

Author's Note

I created the title for a Chap Book I'm working on and loved it so much I wrote this poem. I'd love your feedback.

Reviews

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

"Walking the line" or "living on the edge" is something that I think we all do from time to time. I teeter on the brink of it all the time; fearing the fall, but also fearing what would happen if I didn't skirt that thin line. Some nice imagery in this one, and I enjoyed the sense of emotional turmoil in this one. Well done.

[Kristin Lee]

Thanks, its definitly that delicate tap dance. But I totally get the need to be right there on the edge, skirting the line. It's almost as if its too safe on one side of the line and too scary on the the other so you have to find this place just inbetween.

[B-poet]

This poem had a frantic feeling right after coming out the starting gates. Yet the metaphors you've used here gave it a balance of profound written creativity even in the dark. Great job. An enjoyable read. :)

[Kristin Lee]

Thank you very much. I'm glad that frantic feeling was palpable.

[Jack...]

We all seem to walk a balanced gait on that edge from time to time and if we are lucky, we find what is waiting on the otherside, if not, we end up like the last line of your fantastic and dark poem.

I'm have to echo John, what is a chap book?

[Kristin Lee]

A chap book is a pocket book, usually 48 pages or less. It's commonly used for informational prints or poetry and was a very popular printing style back in the day. I actually have a chap book that an acenstor of mine did around the turn of the century. The one I'm working on will be 26 pages total. And it's actually for submission to a local competition :)

Thank you!

[Jack...]

I hope you do well in the competition

[jacob erin-cilberto]

great name for the chap book i think...the title of this poem.but this is what i think...and it's just my opinion...i like the first, third and fourth stanzas as the "Dancing on the Edge of Dark" poem..

and the second stanza i would like to see stand alone as its own poem...

but like i said..i am only one poet's opinion....and it may be worth a hill of beans.

[Kristin Lee]

Interesting indeed...something to think about and mull over :) Thank you!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

What is a Chap book? I am intrigued. Interesting piece of progression about the price we pay for the choices we make. Second stanza final line felt a little forced. i. e. finding the rhyme to fit.

[Kristin Lee]

It's funny you pick out the rogue log comment. That actually came natural to me, only because I'm from the coast and I was starring at sea shells as I was writting this :)

A chap book is a pocket book, usually 48 pages or less. It's commonly used for informational prints or poetry and was a very popular printing style back in the day. I actually have a chap book that an acenstor of mine did around the turn of the century. The one I'm working on will be 26 pages total. And it's actually for submission to a local competition :)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Must be an American thing. Thanks it sounds interesting.

[Astro]

High-wire acts and spiderweb escapes come to mind with this one that echo's the precariousness of life and how walking the line is no job for fools. "Come into the park.." she says, "but don't feed the bears." Short and concise but well done.

[Kristin Lee]

Don't feed the bears, haha. good one. Thanks for the good review :)

[Astro]

You're welcome.

[Frieda P]

Living on the edge has it's moments but usually the extremes have their consequences & you have to pay...and we all know payback is a b***h. Dancing is always fun but you have to watch that dark that pretends to be light, nice one!

[Kristin Lee]

Thank you. Yes, definitely have to watch out for the posers :)