I was the dancer everyone wants, 
The harlot that caught the eyes of the gods and the hatred of goddesses. 
I was fair enough to blind the eyes of my foes, 
With an allure that wrapped around hearts like silk threads. 
I was desired by men and gods, 
And cursed by ladies and goddesses alike. 
I stole the hearts of many who claimed true love, 
Leaving behind whispers of longing and jealousy in my wake. 

With the moves of my waist, 
Each sway and turn was enough to kill and stop a war; 
The sound of my leg bells and my ringing beads, 
A melody that echoed through palaces, keeping Kings entertained, 
While causing the downfall of other Kings in their envy. 
The cries of the ladies who lost their claimed true loves— 
Their sorrow was enough to bring down the walls of Jericho; 
Still, I danced non-stop, a relentless spirit in motion.

I stole, I entertained, 
I killed with beauty and charm; 
I helped those who sought solace in my art. 
I'm desired by many, yet I'm needed by few; 
I'm worshiped for my grace but cursed for my allure. 

My waist was worshipped more than the gods who helped them; 
Yet this harlot I was fell in love with a WARRIOR— 
He was my knight in shining armor, a beacon amidst chaos. 
So tall he stood, enough to sweep aside the oceans of goddesses  
Throwing themselves at him in desperation;  
For him, I danced with joy and unrestrained happiness. 

For him, my bells rang like the sweet chimes of Christmas cheer;  
For him, my beads rang and shone in recognition—  
And when he finally acknowledged his harlot oh! Shame to my sinned heart—  
Was I not happy? Was I not meant to feel joy? 

Then he left for war, a hero into battle’s embrace.  
I danced month after month after month,  
But he came not; I danced in fear and pain—  
For two years and another two years he did not return.  
In despair, I cried for loss so profound;  
I traded my dancing for his life in silent prayer. 

After a year filled with pain and regret’s heavy hand, he finally came back—  
My knight in shining armor! This harlot was happy again!  
Glad that he was alive and well, I stood there as he smiled at me;  
My heart was warm—warmer than the sun itself—as he held my hands.  
But when he departed this harlot's hands felt heavier than they had ever been;  
A weight of unfulfilled love clung to me like shadows at dusk.

He said to a harlot like me: “Thank you for your service; after all, you are a harlot.”  
I looked at my knight in shining armor—his light no longer shone bright. 
If tears could grow from sorrow's depth, I would have cried an ocean; 
For he was married to another harlot—a cruel twist of fate—  
The difference between she and I was that she was a bed harlot while I was merely a stage harlot;  
She sleeps while I danced through life’s cruelest moments.

Then he left me—my knight, my love, my dancing spirit;  
He took with him all that mattered: my talent, my heart—broken fragments scattered.   
I have been tricked by the gods who played with mortal lives;   
I have been destroyed by love’s bitter hand. Was I not destined to live? To thrive?

On the stage were glasses placed there by my foes—   
Shattered dreams reflecting back at me like mocking whispers.   
I would sweep them off but today I did not have strength;   
I knew I could no longer dance as before—I had lost that talent.   
So I jumped on the glasses—bleeding in pain with each shard piercing deep.   
I jumped and jumped until my hands hit a lamp—a spark ignited within me! 🔥 

Fire spread like wildflowers blooming in chaos;   
My bells rang out with fervor as if calling forth forgotten spirits—   
And my waist moved once more as if it were reborn!   
I danced in a room engulfed by flames on a stage made of glass—   
My talents returned amidst destruction until finally this harlot died;   
In death, perhaps I found freedom from chains unseen before.

My knight remembered his dancing harlot and found me lifeless on that stage—   
In his grief-stricken heart he too took his final breath;   
He killed himself out of sorrow’s grasp—and his spirit wandered restlessly—   
Searching for his dancing harlot for two long years and another two years more,  
Yearning to find her again until he disappeared into nothingness without seeing his beloved harlot once more.

~•gifttaylor•~