Right after the act before, and just before the music begins

lies the Valley of Dire Hope.

The knot is tight- the throat is dry.

As the pause gets longer, the MC calls the next dancer and the music begins.

Immediately it’s time to jump off a cliff!

The heart leaps, turns, constricts inwards, expands outwards

screams and sings and sometimes weeps.

Sometimes it is pure as the first fresh snow or

as raw as a marred purple bruise- mashed eggplant on brown skin

no time for self-criticism,

no moment to second guess,

no minute for double mindedness.

Here is where the universe hums.