Solitary Forest Dance Poem by Diana van den Berg

As the sun sank low,
the woodnymph
danced,
swan-like,
alone, alone, alone
in a clearing
in her forest-home,
a sad, soft smile
playing on her lips.

Her music
was the twittering
of sleepy birds.
Her dance
painted the story
of her sadness
and joy,
her fears
and passions,
her loves
and hates,
her anger
and forgiveness
in muted forest colours,
the softness of her ivory dress
enhancing the curves
of her body.

There was no-one
to see
so her spirit was free
to dance
the wild and gentle story
that her heart lived
and remembered,
dance,
dance,
dance
till she dropped
gracefully
into sleep
under a guardian tree
to wake a dove
that took flight
heavenwards.

(11 August 2011)