Rob Krabbe
“Never Gonna Stop,
Never Gonna Stop”
a poem by Rob Krabbe
Vainglorious, ye artisans!
Fear not ye, the climb!
Hear the tolling chime,
closer and closer, to
righteous fervor, the
demon’s servent, and all
that counting in time.
Rhymes and rationale
a dancer with an eye
for subtle imperfections
in the pursuit of glory.
It’s a tough, tough life,
living hard times,
one dream left was
the common story.
So dancer took a job as
a maid, and the beautiful
dream stayed strong.
Nights like a flash,
for a tiny little stash,
and the days were
very, very, long.
Nope, not much cash in
pushing hoovers, and
scrubbing showers.
But oh those nights…
sweating under work
lights, marking for hours!
Building those lofty towers.
Half the shows open the
night before they close.
There’s no time to grieve,
when your 30 years
old.
Off, off Broadway, only
one dark day a week,
to eat, do laundry and
get twelve hours sleep.
Trying really hard not to
end up on the street.
By the end of the day,
you try to ease your
burning feet.
You work endless years,
and you run out of tears.
To get an even break
you’ll even believe the lies,
and the constant defense
to all the monster's galling.
Producers groping, and the
traditional trope-ing, the
stereotypically fantastic
madness of trying to fill your
life with gladness, and all for
an honest attempt to live
your holy inspired calling.
You keep dreamin’ the dream
and you make those floors gleam,
Even atheists dancers pray
to a random God on high.
“Please, please, please, give
me the life I need, need, need!
On my knees, knees, knees
I plead your goodness to
help me truly live.”
But it's still a bit of the
killing yourself to give,
your dues and don’ts,
and your instinct to misgive.
Dancin your life away,
night after long night.
Reaching the inglorious heights
under the burning blazing lights,
after all, some people work a
lifetime just to up and die.
Hear this, then my friend
for perfect wisdom is nigh!
Doing a thing you love…
is enough of a reason why!
CR 12.04.21 0Rob Krabbe
