all else is gone and now I only love

to dance — no other joys, no hopes

only living when I dance, just then

when music starts to soar

and thrum

and move my sullen flesh

No matter what dark misery

beats endless in my blood

and thickset crushes down

this stupid flaccid fearfilled brain

bold music-throb at once entraps my lonely hips

transforms my sudden bouncing breasts,

sends both my arms up-up, way up —

music parts my black clad legs

makes them move smooth

makes what's between feel prominent

yet also, softly, opened — free

Although I know . . . I know the misery lives strong,

survives and thrives, returns renewed each time

yet it is punished by the song, the vibrant voice,

this room! so pulsing full with different forms and faces

many many moving warmlit limbs

makes misery fall back, cringe down, lie low

forced to just bide its brutal shaming time

Brief vital gift . . . though misery lives on, will rise anew

some lurking grace decrees it can't withstand

sweet swelling power of this hot sauce dance