Dancing (on a high wire)
Happy National Poetry Month from Stance on Dance!
BY PETRA ANDERS; IMAGE BY CAMILLE TAFT
You can be a high wire dancer in many ways, not just on a high wire.
~~
I need to balance
like a wire dancer
knowing
that every single step is
hard to take
I must balance myself
say what I want
as this is no guessing game
leave if that’s what you want
or I will lose you
I need to keep my distance
stand still and freeze
to keep an eye on the events
even if the best place to be
is close to you
I must learn to bide my time
keep waiting
on the high wire
but not too long
or you’ll be gone
without a smile
without me being able
to ask you to keep my feet on solid ground
because every dancer needs a break
no dancer is perfect right away
so please
tell me
if this is going too fast
tell me
if I’m getting too close
and don’t forget
to look after me
every once in a while
~~
Dr. Petra Anders loves to write poems. As an academic with disabilities, her research includes different aspects of the representation of disability in film as well as disability studies and gender. Petra’s research draws on her belief that differences between people should not only be recognized but accepted. For more information, please check out her website: http://petraanders.de/barrierearm-accessible/.