Waltz

if this is goodbye
then I'll make it a good one
I'll smile and wish you well
shelving my sadness

it's the last in a series
of well-meaning hurts after all

if it's another pause in
our endless dance
i'll take this chance--
to rest bruised feet
and aching shins

and maybe later I won't
trip over my own feet or
step on your toes or squeeze
your delicate hands too tightly

I've bungled all the steps,
pulled you to me, released you
out of time

this isn't a waltz sometimes--
it's a fight.

but I still want to dance with you