Previous poem
The dance of a maniac lacks the grace of a gymnast the gay abandon in expression of joy calculated steps to build a rhythm The dance of a maniac disturbs the balance of tolerant earth stirs spasmodic earthquake energy to unearth some more madness The dance of a maniac Strives - to make insanity look normal draw attention to buried venom And then say “Look, you did it all”
Palinode
the maniac in a hospital bed
strapped to tubes and wires
unable to move hands and legs
thinks where are the fires
worlds are back to abnormal
that’s how they want it to be
Change – caged in opaque walls
spirits will never be free
Inner power needs channels to flow
Those paths are all sealed and sold
Death is still a dance, but slow
pushing life back to the edge of old
MTB: Palinode

Two different worlds and perspective. I would rather have my freedom if given a choice. This part is painful:
Death is still a dance, but slow
pushing life back to the edge of old
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Everybody would and should sign on for freedom. Thank you, Grace!
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I feel the torment of the sufferer here in both poems, but from different perspectives.
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You are so right. Thanks, Ingrid!
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This is absolutely stellar writing! I love the wisdom in your Palinode especially; “Death is still a dance, but slow pushing life back to the edge of old.”💝💝
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Thank you so much, Sanaa!
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Both poems gave me a lot to think about.
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Thank you, Patricia!
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You do a good job of capturing the feeling of panic of being detained in your second set of verses. Good work!
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Thank you, TJS!
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left foot
stumble
inept
and bumble
oof!
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What an interesting coupling of poems. I had never heard of a Palinode before. Life/Near Death, Madness free/Madness under lock and key.
The first poem made me think of the European medieval St Vitus dance, where people spontaneously and without inhibition began dancing in public.
The second poem brought to mind the hospital bed where so many these days are stripped of the madness of life.
Hope you and yours are well. I love “the edge of old,” by the way.
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You added so much value to the poems. I’ve heard the Spanish do a jig to greet each other – just a handshake is not enough. Of course, handshakes are outdated now….
Thank you so much!
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