The dance was vibrant, loud and bold

dance floor crowded, pleasing chaos

shining shifting arms and legs

dancers complimenting my wild style

in keeping with the night perhaps

Before the midnight countdown came

one dancing man discovered me

Grabbed me, held me backwards, skintight against his groin

hands quick caressing first my breasts, then lower down

spun me around and gripped me firm again . . . I was no victim

just surprised, still dancing though, responsive, moving both as one

He murmured in my ear I want to fuck you

I moved a step away, with ease he grabbed me back again

held my hips and waist, pressed in

I'm fucking you right now he said

I understood, i felt it too, the music throbbed

the DJ's swayed

Balloons tied to the stage vibrated to the beat

I stepped away again, our eyes met smiling warm

then I danced backward through the crowd, to girl side of the stage

Not frightened or rejecting, just not able to . . . do something — what?

Comply? Take part? Understand? unsure but

felt I wasn't right for. . . it, whatever it would be

yet at the same time pleased to feel in flesh so very right

and very pleased to see he thought I was.

Then counting down commenced

crowd throbbing to the beat, New Year was born

I lost my garnet necklace, found it, the man found me again

smiled with sweet glee, we laughed and danced anew

then he again encircled me

Held me, my back against his muscled front

his glossy bulging garb pressed hard against my velvet skirt

His arms felt very strong —

he sought to draw me backward, toward the door

murmured in my ear "you like this" — statement/question blend

correct, I did, did like it, liked it a lot, and yet . . .

I swivelled, met his eyes, spoke into his ear — it's complicated

I looked again at him beneath the sparkle disco lights,

his smile was sad but warm and sweet

he got it, understood, it seemed —

gently he opened hands and softly let me go

I smiled into his kind sad eyes and slipped away

Grabbed coat and travelled out beneath the stars

watched fireworks above

heard fireworks explode

felt fireworks within the whole walk home.