Quiet...

It's so easy to step on the wrong word

hit a bad verbal note

an off-key phrase

and bring the whole delicate dance to a screeching halt

Why can't we each just understand the other's meaning?

After all these years

you'd think we'd know each other well enough by now

to understand the intent behind the words

that fall limply from our mouths

to thud at our feet

It shouldn't be so easy to hurt each other

accidentally

trod on a vulnerable heart with ill-prepared words

and misguided affections

The sentiment should speak for itself

the care-for-ness that guides our every action

shouldn't need to be stated explicitly anymore

should it?

We know how we feel

about each other

So why is it still so easy to fall to the same conclusions

that paint ourselves as victims

each to the other's phantomed cruel intent?

We should know better by now

Will we ever be able to truly learn this lesson?

Or are we doomed by the very fact of our dancing

through this life together

to step on each other's toes once in a while?

I guess it doesn't really matter

so long as we keep dancing

it's worth the 

bruised toes

bruised egos

battered hearts

and all

Just hold on

hold close

don't look down

and don't stop

don't stop

don't ever stop