could you dance with me?
would you mind if I asked you simply
(am I the first?) could you dance with me?

could you just for one moment forget
the many judges watching    -mouths open-
the many jeerers sneering    -staring, watching-
and could you dance with me?

just for one moment 
could you let time stand
and hold me the way you do for a second 
when we say good-bye?

just for one dance 
could hold me the way I dreamt
could you just let your lips barely touch mine
and breathe your sweet-tasting life into my mouth...

could you touch my neck 
and hold my waist
and sway from side to side
could you forget them around us, for a moment?

could you just love me now?
could you dance with me now?
perhaps
                  perhaps
                                    perhaps 
you would see something you like
if you looked into my eyes
and could you dance with me?

(oh, careful
oh, be sweet and gentle or you could
hurt something so fragile
be careful 
    oh, darling, be frail with the lips you kiss me with
-my lips are so cold-
    I'm afraid they would break with only one slip
oh, sweet, be careful with your hands
-my waist is so small in your arms-
            I'm scared you could squeeze my heart till it collapse)

on the dance floor
 in the sticky gym 
  on an old night, full of regrets
    and brand-new beliefs...

shall we dance?
copyright 1997 Rachael Lee