Bethlehem Quote by Billy Collins
““Dancing Towards Bethlehem If there is only enough time in the final minutes of the 20th century for one last dance I would like to be dancing it slowly with you, say, in the ballroom of a seaside hotel. My palm would press into the small of your back as the past hundred years collapsed into a pile of mirrors or buttons or frivolous shoes, just as the floor of the 19th century gave way and disappeared in a red cloud of brick dust. There will be no time to order another drink or worry about what was never said, not with the orchestra sliding into the sea and all our attention devoted to humming whatever it was they were playing. ””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “Dancing Towards Bethlehem” from the collection “The Trouble with Poetry”, 1995
The poet imagines a final, intimate dance at the turn of the century, where past eras dissolve and only the present moment matters.
In simple terms: A last dance at century’s end, letting the past fall away.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the present and cherish shared moments.
Themes
love
impermanence
memory
time
intimacy
Mood
nostalgic
contemplative
romantic
Type
poetic
lyational
When to use this quote
- celebrations
- farewells
- personal reflections
- historical anniversaries
Key Concepts
existential reflection
romanticism
historical metaphor
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “dance” symbolize for you at endings?
- How do you hold onto love amid change?
A Different Perspective
The imagery may romanticize historical collapse, overlooking real suffering.
