The Dance

I dreamed I found a marionette

that had ten thousand strings

I tugged each one for Wisdom’s sake

to see what movement brings

*

The beauty of that precious doll

it’s wonder without end

enslaved my heart and mind and soul

and begged that I attend

*

Just then I heard from deep inside

a cry of pain and fear

and looking at its perfect face

I found a perfect tear

*

A whisper, pleading, came to me

an ache too sharp and keen

for greater beauty known before

for wonders yet unseen

*

Around me lay ten thousand strings

before me, crying “when?”

lay my perfect marionette

begging to dance again

*

Blind with love and desperate hope

I grabbed and pulled and dropped

till sweat and blood ran down the strings

till failing, I stopped

I pried the cords from broken hands

and hurled them to the ground

in raging hate and bitter pain

I cursed the doll I’d found

*

You vile trick, you promise false

you asked what I had not

no man with flesh and bones and blood

could handle every knot

*

exhausted, failed, without hope

I wept for what was lost

I held the tangled marionette

and understood the cost

*

When once again, the whisper came

the promise and the love

but now I saw them as they were

meant for a heart above

*

I laid the strings out best I could

I kissed that perfect face

and bowing deep, I moved away

and left the doll in place

*

I whispered something too just then

a thank you for the chance

to witness as the Master made

the marionette dance