The Devil Dance

I danced with the devil. He played me a song. I didn't really like it, but I caught on. The tune wasn't catchy the melody a little wrong. But when he sang it to me, I felt it's where I belong.

So I learnt how to move to it, how to groove to it. How to listen but not really listen to the mood to it. And my feet began to move insync with his. Hand in hand he led me into this abyss.

I danced with the devil. I didn't know he left me dancing alone. I was lost in the music and soul. Too high to notice he was gone.

Then I danced for the devil. He no longer danced with me. Just left me dancing, still insynchrony. I danced with all my heart hoping he would see how great his little dancer could be.

I was too busy dancing to notice the lashes. Too busy dancing to notice the whips. Too busy dancing to notice the punches and the kicks. Too busy to see that I dancing to the rhythm of the hits.

Then it began to hurt. First a little bit then a lot. And then I stopped. I was no longer dancing with the devil. He was dancing with a group of others. One on his left, on his right. A couple more one the side. Others waiting in line.

I looked at myself and saw what the truth is. The scars, the scratches, the marks and the bruises. I sat down and looked at my feet, badly burnt from dancing on the heat. I tried to ask the devil to assist, but he was engrossed, engaged, entertained by his latest.

I stood up to dance once more. Hoping it would bring him back home. But my body was tired and my feet were sore. And my heart didn't feel that melody like it used to before.

I danced with the devil. He taught me his song. I learnt how to sing it, to play it and to dance along. He taught it to me, then I made it mine. Coz when you have nothing, anything sounds fine.

Then in the darkness there was a light. Not from the fire, it was little and bright. And it shone through my heart and filled me with conviction. I was dancing the wrong dance and it was my addiction.

So I listened to the light and learnt a new song. A song that eventually led to my freedom. And I was no longer bruised or grazed or bleeding. I was hurt but I was healing.

I danced with the devil. The days, one thousand eight hundred and twenty five. I danced with the devil and I'll never know why, I danced so diligently but he left me to die.

I know the dance well. I remember it still. And if he asks me to dance again, maybe I will.