Outside with the girls I am waiting
for the queue to shuffle me in
where the spotlight can strip a face naked
for one second before it moves on
it moves on it moves on it moves on
in the place where our music is playing,
where the heaving walls take us in
and their eyes are the thousand windows
that close and open in turn
as we turn as we turn as we turn
we are not walking but waltzing
through pauses that lift us like wings,
our feet one two three on the ceiling
and the mirrors watching us spin
as we spin as we spin as we spin
and there’s your head on my shoulder,
at my cheek your quickening breath,
if I don’t look back I can keep you forever,
that’s how we will cheat
don’t say it don’t speak it don’t write it,
don’t turn, my love, don’t turn.
If I watch my step if I don’t look back
if I hold the red rope if I swallow the hope
if I spin if I spin if I spin