To Dream On A Dance Poem by Margaret Alice Second

Bowing my back, ploughing through the
storm whirling construction terms for the
new railway line, making progress, relaxed
then lost my way in Excel, lines to be trans-
ferred blocked by columns not merged
causing emotional distress

French preparation at home, once again
numbers for telling the time to be learned,
mind going up in flames - anxiety chokes
the life out of me, watching a dance on TV,
an energising jive, vitality restored, feeling
delighted enthusiasm again

Buffeted by emotion I beg indulgence when
I refuse to focus on suffering and pain, only
by keeping my eye on good things can I try
to weather life without total collapse and to
dream on a dance strengthens me to face
the crossword puzzles life throws at us

Numbers drive me nuts while art forms in
elegant lines, music and dance; rekindle
memories of beautiful dreams enriching
the fount of ideas shining like millions of
prisms reflecting reality in countless
colour, form and sound frequencies