Due Introduction - The First Dance

SLOW DANCE by David L. Weatherford

Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask "How are you?"
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?
You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say "Hi"?
You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away.
Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.

This poem was introduced to me by Ms Jenny John, an English lecturer in UiTM i think sometime in the year 2002 or 2003. Back then, I was in my 2nd or 3rd year reading law. Ms John taught us English Literature, a subject which I've always had great interest in (compared to boring law books). Ms John explained, after reading out the poem to us, that the said poem was written by a terminally ill 7 years old girl named Amy Bruce. We were surprised to learn how Amy, being such a young girl, a child, could come up with such a mature and beautiful piece of literary work! It surely did puts extra emotional icings to the said poem and I remember it till today. It is only much later that I learn the author was not Amy but one David L. Weatherford. He was not terminally ill but an adult male child psychologist. Stories about Amy being the author was created by some people who are keen in contributing to internet hoaxes.

Be it Amy or David, I'm still glad that this poem was introduced to me. It reminded me to take a step back and ponder over the delightfulness of the many little things that used to be able to make me feel happy. It made me stop to think, be thankful and most importantly breathe. Sometimes I got too caught up with in the fast pace of working life that I forgot to breathe, properly. I took the sweetness of the freshly cut grass, the warm and comforting smell of home and the delicious aroma of mom's cooking, all for granted.

The above poem inspired me to name this humble blog of mine as Slow Dance. The title may be the same, but I'm slow dancing to a different tune than that of Mr. Weatherford or Amy (for that matter). Most of the time I dance alone. Perhaps in time, there will be someone who would dance with me, to our tune.

I do not expect any claps nor praises at the end of each of my dances. I don't even expect pleasant thoughts from anyone as well. Perhaps my blog might end up being the most ignored blog in history. Be that as it may, my dances are my thoughts, which I hope could soothe the wandering hearts of those who may be feeling the same way as I do.

Let's dance.