Poetry

Sweet Dancer

The girl goes dancing there
On the leaf-sown, new-mown, smooth
Grass plot of the garden;
Escaped from bitter youth,
Escaped out of her crowd,
Or out of her black cloud.
Ah, dancer, ah, sweet dancer!

If strange men come from the house
To lead her away, do not say
That she is happy being crazy;
Lead them gently astray;
Let her finish her dance,
Let her finish her dance.
Ah, dancer, ah, sweet dancer!

By William Butler Yeats

Boundaries

Boundaries. By definition it's something that indicates the bounds or limits. There all sorts of boundaries. Actually physical boundaries, for instance the boundaries of walls in your house or the fence around your yard. Invisible boundaries, like city, state or country lines or personal boundaries, and even professional boundaries? Invisible but just the same, real.

What happens when someone oversteps a personal or professional boundary? I know that I get extremely uncomfortable when a stranger gets physically close to me - they're inside my personal space, my boundary. What about the boundaries we invoke upon ourselves? We all have boundaries that we live by, that restrict us, guide us, and even protect us. For example, laws or rules establish a form of boundaries. Cross the line, and voila, you may find yourself being punished or even worse, behind bars.

I have wrapped myself in boundaries for a long time. Internal boundaries. I withhold much of myself from most people, and few really truly know or understand me. What happens if my boundaries were to unravel? Would I remain much as I am at this given time? I don't know. I've had relationship boundaries pushed, twisted and crossed. My first husband and I had tons of issues related to boundaries - mostly due to his kids and ex-wife. (but that's a whole other blog!)

What happens when your personal boundaries are crossed? I've tried following the Golden Rule... to treat others as you expect to be treated in the same situation. And I can personally attest, it isn't always easy. But that's another blog... for now, I contemplate boundaries, those physical, invisible, real and imagined.

Last Step

Desire has crashed and fallen

Thirst never to be quenched

Your shallow feelings grasping

Seek, beholding the lies you've told

Stare turns to glare, you question

All awake to hear, I dare give answer

Sensation lost in confusion

A path retreats behind you

A path of pain and deceit

For I know what you know

A touch, fleeting and gone

A step, into the abyss of nothing

For you pain and heartbreak

For me, finding loving peace

By Christy Henderson

(a rebuttal of sorts)