"He Kindly Danced for Me" by J.D. Harlock

Death Dancing in the Forest. Art by MidJourney AI

because I would not dance for Death—he kindly danced for me
and showed me a lesson in graceful—humility
 
he slowly moved—a deathly pace
serenaded by—the deathly shapes
that hovered over and twirled along
in ghastly—symphony
 
and I stood there... I stood there...
mouth agape, admiring, with composure and grace
his sublime—ability
 
that is until—he reached for me, for me alone,
in this phantom ball, in this phantom hall,
beyond the veil of—tranquility
 
and then—as if by spell, I moved in... I moved in...
and grabbed his hand and took the lead and in the lead—we danced!
oh, how we danced!
 
swaying and spinning through the air—in perfect harmony
 
and though our time was brief—all too brief
I found a comfort here
here, in his embrace, his deathly embrace,
relieved by his exalted—civility
 
because our little dance
it taught me death, it taught me life
within the limits of—possibility
 
for no matter the gown, no matter the ball,
this little dance unites all
 
and so I dance here…. yes, I dance here... with bated breath...
for we are all equal unto Death
requiescat in pace

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J.D. Harlock is a Lebanese writer based in Beirut. 

His short stories have been featured in The Deadlands, Sciencefictionary, Defenestration, Wyldblood Press, and the Decoded Pride Anthology, his poetry has been featured in Penumbric, Future Fire, Mobius and Black Cat Magazine, and his articles/reviews have been featured  NewMyths.com, Mermaids Monthly, Interstellar Flight Press, and on the SFWA Blog. 
You can find him on Twitter and Instagram @JD_Harlock.

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