Abigail Bailey

This Dance We Do (Semicolon)

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Abigail Bailey

Once a year We come back to the same place The middle of the room Our socks slip on the wood floors/Your movements are unpredictable I try my best to follow along With your lead/In your eyes, the bright room is dark Sometimes you have to clo- se them Shielding yourself/I try my best to hold onto your hand Through this dance we do I try to open your eyes Eve- n though all I know there is is pain for you So that you know I’m here for you/I feel your limbs become more phantom Hol- ding, holding I’m trying to pull you back Because the healing hasn’t started yet Don’t go, don’t go Not before you’re okay/ Our fingertips still touch, And you twirl me, Hoping that y- ou can sneak away Catch me unaware/I know your tric- ks, The secrets you keep, Every expression on your fa- ce guarded/Don’t you let go Through this dance we do The voices scream to stop I won’t let you listen to them

I want to believe in the semicolon; I want to believe you can make it through this dance; But every dance b- ecomes more complicated And you play your tricks better each time/Is it all my fault? If I do nothing, is it all on me? If I do everything, will it even matter?/ Only pinkies interlocked; hold onto We grow tired I am not sure if I can you anymore But I persist anyway/ This dance unbalanced to give out Every fear

we do is ending; We become Ready for our legs takes over me; Every nightmare takes over you/My h- eart beats faster; I hope yours never stops There is no anymotouch re, Only the lingering feeling of it As you slip away Leaving me on this floor/ My only hope is a semicolon