I have had many partners

As I danced across the stage of life

Tapping feet to melody

And swinging to the timely beat

Yet I have yet to find the one who

Makes me complete

 

I have had many partners

As I danced across the stage of life

The first, his name was pride

And he swept me off my feet, though cursed

He was ravishing, the worst

But he filled my thirst

 

I was full, I was lovely

Held high in his arms

Warmed with promises of standing and honor I

Rose high above the rest

Not seeing I was too much at rest in thinking I was better

Forsaking and betraying everyone I ever loved, thinking I was best

 

I have had many partners

As I danced across the stage of life

The first, his name was pride

And he swept me off my feet, but left me utterly alone

With no one whom to retreat to or even love

He left me alone with my tapping feet

 

I have had many partners

As I danced across the stage of life

The second, his name was self-hate

And he came in rather quickly, after pride

Finding delight in making me to chide

Myself, repeatedly forever my shame to hide

 

I was miserable in his arms

Wretched at the sight of what I had become

With pride, thinking I was better

Yet finding myself to be bereft

Of anything, worth any kind of theft

Alone, and utterly forgotten I fell into the arms of shame and wept

 

I have had many partners

As I danced across the stage of life

The second, his name was self-hate

And he came in rather quickly, yet stayed for far too long

Never drifting far, I thought I would belong

With him, but again, this partner was wrong

 

I have had many partners

As I danced across the stage of life

The third, his name was fear

He chimed in during the fourth song, and sang

A wretched, wretched tune, that rang

In my head, constantly until on it my life I did hang

 

I was perfectly safe and happy

Though happy isn’t the word

I was terrified constantly

And I thought nowhere to be safe, but with he

With him I thought to be

My guardian and protector, but again it was not to be he

 

I have had many partners

As I danced across the stage of life

The third, his name was fear

He chimed in during the fourth song, but his melody

Left me even more empty

And this time afraid to go out my door for fear of some unseen tragedy

 

I have had many partners

As I danced across the stage of life

The fourth, was quite unlike the rest

And his names were many, so high above the rest

 

The first, was peace

Undoing all my fears and

Wiping all my tears

 

The second, was love

He covered all my shame and

Broke my every chain

 

The third, was humility

He taught me how to sing

To the only one who really mattered, and all glory to him bring

 

I have had many partners

As I danced across the stage of life

The fourth, was quite unlike the rest

And his names were many, far too many to count

But with him, there is a fount that will

Never run dry, and I am at last found