Dances in Damanhur
by Aniela Clitan
We danced like melted chocolate that night
in Damanhur.
Like streams of dream which flow with purpose,
we gathered in the Labyrinth
and prayed –
We prayed with stone and danced with thought,
we chased with fingers in the Hall of Spheres,
and tangled all into a shining knot
Through which the earth has bound
our souls
to life and nothing more.
We woke our bones in sunrise
and chewed on aysh bread with beans.
We laughed
when we suddenly knew –
There wasn’t going to be a last supper.
No, none of that betrayal and crucifixion
here in the Blue Temple!
Just the redemption of our sleep and sweat
from centuries of not being awake
or of working too much,
And never dancing enough,
The way we danced that night
in Damanhur.


