5Rhythms Body Waves Poems by Lora Heller
FLOWING
Am I flowing or fleeing?
Flitting like a butterfly, taking only what I need and giving the rest away
So others can grow, thrive, feel nurtured
I seek grounding, connection
But I fly away and freeze
Dissociation is the anchor that disrupts my flow
Closes doors, disguised as safety…
I long to root like a flower, eager to grow
To be beautiful and free, flowing with the wind
Yet I resist
Finding security in the work of the butterfly
Escaping – or is it truly free, grounded in its own rhythm
Nurturing itself while empowering others
I desire to flow in my own freedom, grounded in my own strength
My body freezes, my thoughts fly
I try not to fight, I attempt to breathe
Seeking solace in music, in love, in safety
That I know surrounds me if I allow myself to trust
My steps are solid They circle, taking me where I need to go
They ground me
I’ve spent a lifetime attuning to others
Now I attune to myself, moving the way I once rocked babies
The way I still help to calm and connect, to cultivate…
There’s grief in my hips, memories in my shoulders, compassion in my hands
The music reminds me to listen, to breathe, that I am supported
Tears suddenly fall – grieving and celebrating
Flowing freely, unveiling my inner truth
STACCATO
Testing the limits I had set for myself
Expanding the boundaries, inviting more in
Taking risks that nurture my soul without judgement
Seeking my truth, yet I resist – or do I?
Opening the gate, I welcome it as I step forward
My direction is clear
The music gives me permission to take up space
To express my strength
To dance with the raindrops and to splash in the puddles
I find balance as I navigate through my own presence
I trust my choices – those I sat with and those that escaped before I could think
I’ve spent years finding my voice in the world—naming, holding, guiding
My body remembers old habits of restraint but here, I let them loosen
Anger surfaces, clean and contained, with no need for justification
It steadies me
I neither forgive nor forget
My feet remember, and guide me in the right direction
I declare myself
Lines and angles dance in synchrony
CHAOS
I yearn to let go though I resist
My tears release me
While my fears hold me still
Do I fear the feeling, or what I might encounter?
I resist desires, avoid pleasures, hesitate…
I crave the release I see in others; perhaps I’m meant to witness first
Before I step into the unknown
Suddenly my body moves faster than thought, shaking loose grief, fear,
Old loyalties that no longer fit
It’s not madness—it’s liberation, transformation
I struggle with physical pain and feel the tug of emotions I’m not certain I understand
But I don’t stop
I am undone and alive at the same time
When I finally slow, I’m surprised to find myself standing
I didn’t fall apart; I survived letting go
LYRICAL
I feel light, almost playful, like my body is remembering a language it used to speak fluently
I spin without dizziness; my arms open without effort
I carry deep joy and playfulness in my heart
In my breath
I have carried deep pain and darkness that has held hostage
My light, my pleasures
As I move to the beat, as the melody carries me I am reminded of the intrinsic joy of childhood
My own child delighting in my happy tears, exclaiming ‘laugh until you cry!’
My movements grow expansive but not careless
There’s pleasure here, and gratitude
I think of the many roles I play and how I rarely move without obligation
Here, I move because I choose to
The rhythm lifts me, the movement becomes a conversation
I smile, feeling generous, welcoming joy
Accepting this gift of expression as laughter fills my breath
STILLNESS
Tears of joy, desire, release, relief
Deeply moved by the music
Unencumbered
My mind is content, gently reflective
Each step is deliberate, each pause is full
I feel the ache in my joints, and I don’t fight it
I feel the wisdom in my bones, and I trust it
I stand in my breath, in my age, in the life I have lived, in my life as it is—
In the one still unfolding, not as it once was or might have been
I feel the residue of everything that came before—softness, anger, surrender, joy—
Now settled into something quieter
The music is quiet as though it is listening
Curiosity inspires me to move, remaining present, grounded
Ready to carry this journey with me
As I breathe myself home
Author: Lora Heller, WritingWaves, February 2026