I Praise the Dance of Man and Woman

I praise the dance
because it frees
the woman and the man
from the heaviness of things
binds the isolated
to community
 
I praise the dance
which demands everything
and promotes
health and a clear mind
and an elated soul
of woman and man
 
dance is a transformation
of space and time
of woman and man
who are in constant danger
of disintegrating
of becoming
all mind, will or feeling
 
dancing however demands
a whole person
one who is firmly anchored
in the centre of life
who is not obsessed by lust
after people and things
and by the demon of isolation
in his own ego
 
dancing demands
a freed person
one who vibrates with
the balance of all his powers
 
I praise the dance

O man learn to dance
or else the angels in heaven
will not know what to do
with you

Aurelius Augustine of Hippo, I Praise the Dance