Results Poetry Duel 19

Poetry Duel 19 was another close-run thing.
One of my poems from Scenes, "Dance", was on the left. It was intended as inspirational for kids as they transitioned out of high school. It "wins" with a rating of 4.00. On the right was a Carl Sandburg poem "Dancer" which has a decidedly seedier outlook. It is not of a popular style for Mr. Sandburg's poetry, though it is indicative of how, even for great artists, there are some works less well remembered. "Dancer" garnered the same number of votes but a much lower 3.5 average rating.

Dance

Dance
Figuratively or literally
Find the happiness
And let it out.
Dance
No matter what comes
For tomorrow the sun
Will rise again.
Dance
Because the alternative
Is to soak in the crying;
To bend under the weight
Dance
There is always some joy,
A bit of the beautiful
Let it be your guide.

Dancer

The lady in red, she in the chile con carne red,
Brilliant as the shine of a pepper crimson in the summer sun,
She behind a false-face, the much sought-after dancer, the most sought-after dancer of all in this masquerade,
The lady in red sox and red hat, ankles of willow, crimson arrow amidst the Spanish clashes of music,

I sit in a corner
watching her dance first with one man
and then another.