The Last Dance

The Last Dance

 

A search through a closet

Reveals an old box

Filled to brimming

With things from her past

 

A Yearbook

With faded faces

Smiling sweetly up

She remembers.

 

The times long past

Well up in her eyes

As a smaller box

Finds its way back

 

This box contains

A single pair of shoes

From a prom so far

And long gone

 

She remembers the day

That she danced

With him, the perfect one

But look at her now…

 

An apartment in the slums

Of New York City

Filled with dust

And old memories

 

She remembers him saying

“Run away with me!”

So that the prom,

That dance, would last forever

 

But where is she now?

What memories can help?

He’s gone and moved on

She’s left all alone

 

With a thought in her mind,

Tears in her eyes,

And old shoes on her feet

She dances in the empty room

 

Memories fill the space
Like fresh paint on canvas

An elegant dress appears

Where faded blue jeans were

 

These memories guide her feet

As if their power all gathered

In the shoes she wears

The past plays in repeat

 

The prince from that day

Holds on as they circle

Sweet slow dances in rhythm

As the music croons on

 

No longer a dusty old place

But, a beautiful hall

Filled with flowing gowns

And faces delighted, not sad

 

She begins to dance slowly

Knowing that memories are just that;

Memories, and nothing more

Although she’s happy once again

 

The shoes guide her feet

The light begins to fade

The face of the prince

Becomes imperfect, blurry

 

The beauty of the people around

Fades away once again

She still dances, but

The music decrescendos slowly

 

She steps away

As the memory fades

And faded jeans replace

A symbol of grace

 

She dances alone

With no prince,

No music at all

Yet she smiles

 

The memory gave back her faith again,

A smile to wear for the darkest of days

Hope wakes from the depths of her soul

And a reason to walk a new path surfaces

 

She decides as she packs

That it’s time to move on

With a new philosophy,

“There is no last dance.”

 

Author's Note

This is pretty long; and I may have lost the flow in places. What say you?
Going back, a few stanzas are completely revised from my journal entry
;D


Is the imagery alright? do you see the picture of this?
Comments appreciated <3

Reviews

[~*~Peace Keeper~*~]

Wow...i really like this...and i think it was the perfect length and it flowed wonderfully
Great Job :)

[BABSIE BEE]

As we get older...these memories are more n more prescious. Thanks for sharing and oh...I loved it sooo much.....would bring a tear to a glass eye...tee hee !!

[Ralphy]

This is wonderful, nothing I would change. It has poise and grace. The image is clear and full of color, the canvas couldn't paint a brighter picture and the message is as clear as the daily news. I like the way your imagination works and it's obvious that your teacher helps instill creativity.

My favorite stanza is
Memories fill the space
Like fresh paint on canvas
An elegant dress appears
Where faded blue jeans were

The colorful motions "from - towards" rags to riches gives off a fantastic glow�nice work Katie

[Violet Rose]

I dun like "Filled to brimming". Brimming is long enough to stand by itself :)

I like how it becomes more magical and "fantastical" as it moves on until it reaches a happy ending. Kudos.

[Wildfleour]

I think it is wonderful. Period.

[Justin Tobey]

Beautiful, Katie! Sad and filled with longing, but beautiful still.

My one critique would be to limit your use of "elegant" and "elegance." Try working with other words in those places so it doesn't seem too repetitive.

Wonderful job. :)