Poem: This Is Community Too

We stood
Listening to the music
In the warm
Downtown night.
I felt the urge to dance
Yet few had graced the floor
Pressure built
Until I could wait no more.
“Damnit I want to dance”
I thought
“To blazes with waiting
For just the right
Number of people!”.
So I strode onto the floor
Let the music take over.
Something happened then
Slowly and beautifully
More and more people
Joined the dancing throng.
Critical mass
Quickly was reached.
We were all dancing
Free of fear
Free of doubt
Free of despair.
United
For a time
In simple movement.
I saw the boundaries crossed
The diversity reflected
The beauty of all.
“This is community”
I thought
“As much as church
Or work or school
We are one”.
I thanked God for the reminder
Of divinity in the dark
Of community in the city
Of oneness in humanity.
So let’s never forget
The power of music
The connection of dance
The need we all have
As humans under the stars.