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Open Poetry #48
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I Didn't Dance (from Boyhood Tales)
| Open Poetry #48 |
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I Didn't Dance (from Boyhood Tales) |
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jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas 
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I Didn't Dance (from Boyhood Tales) "I never learned to dance" --- I was the one with the duck-tail, long curl coming down my forehead, the one who stood against the wall, knee bent, foot marring the paint. I was the one with thumbs hooked on pockets and an occasional comb sweeping back unruly hair. Little did everyone know, with all the pose, the security of self, I was secretly dying inside - wanting to be able to step like that, slide that way, move with style - Dance. But my feet didn't move that way - the bones and the muscles they possessed could do extraordinary things - run with the wind, climb trees, roller skate, walk with style, tap across the floor (heel and toe shoed in metal) - they were strong, limber, could do anything . . . but Dance. When the dance floor got beneath their soles, they fumbled, bumbled, stumbled, tripped, lost their rhythm. Their 'soles' were lost when the music began, they sang a different song completely unrelated to the beat that throbbed through the veins of woman and man. My feet never followed the 'beat of a different drummer', they were the other drummer, lost in a beat of their own, oblivious to the 'thrum' hanging in the air. I didn't dance. I flowered the wall, looked cool, petaled the girls leaning aganist my sides with rose-bud words, tapped my foot in tune with the song, thrilling she who sat on my toe . . . I, didn't dance. I , Didn't, Dance . . . in the traditional sense. © wesley james beard, jr. march 2012 Note: I've changed since then ... now I sit in a chair! |
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| © Copyright 2012 Wesley James Beard, Jr. - All Rights Reserved | |||
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Hah! Me either,man, but I faked a good dance, anything to get me next to female flesh. This was well written, buddy. ~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~ |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Now I'm smiling at both you, my James, and Jerry.... and here I can't find a man to dance with... neither my first husband - who tried - nor my second - who doesn't even give it a second thought - it just never occurred to either that if'n you take that woman, y'know, the one over there, looking lonely, but pretty in a shy sorta way...well, if you were to go up to her, and ask her to dance, and then hold her, close-like, up real and almost personal, then just sway to the music....the slow songs, the one with real words, where meaning comes through... yeah, she'd be the one who thought you were both the best dancer in the world.... |
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jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas |
Smiling at you too, Sunshine, Loving and laughing with your comment ... j. [This message has been edited by jwesley (04-02-2012 11:30 PM).] |
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ebonygirl Member Elite
since 2011-07-14
Posts 2000California U.S.A |
Yyyyup, Ms. Sunshine is soooo right. Thank you Sunshine for revealing the untold truth. Now, Mr. J, liked your poem a lot ... um ... that's enough said. I'll keep my thoughts to myself about my slow dances. Lol, enjoyed your poem, Ms. E |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
I love the way you ended this... not dancing in the "traditional" sense. But you did dance! Dancing involves the freeing of the mind before the body can be freed to follow, (i.e. move where the mind, and it's inspirations, be it music or something else entirely, take you). You did dance my, friend, and you still do, every time you pick up your pen. Michael |
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JL Member Ascendant
since 2004-04-01
Posts 6128Texas, USA |
Big smiles here, my friend!! Great write. JL  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul,and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself. |
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2islander2 Member Ascendant
since 2008-03-12
Posts 6825by the sea |
hello jewsley, youth is a tough time, sometimes, not easy and full of shyness, i love the poem and its deepness, and the love it countains too, thanks for the sweet and lovely write, yann |
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jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas |
My friends, thank you for all the kind replies. We all dance, one way or another - I was just never capable of doing it with my feet (much to my everlasting chargrin!) jwesley |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
I think our feet must be related! LOL The mind yearned... but it got no cooperation whatsoever from the feet. LOL This is a delight... especially the ending! |
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
How well you rendered your memories here, dear Jimmy. A joy to read ... was that before the girls began to ask the partners? But then indeed, as Michael says, you danced with your words and the girls forgot about the dancing floor ... that must be the truth! Margherita |
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Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
Excellent, Jimmy. Brought back memories. Ida |
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Ron63 Junior Member
since 2012-03-18
Posts 49Suffolk, Eng, UK |
I thoroughly enjoyed this story-based poem. What attracted me to your poem was the title and when I started reading, I was captivated by its smooth rhythm and word flow. You obvioulsy have talent. |
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Misty Lilacs Senior Member
since 2005-11-15
Posts 1060White Birch Forest |
1962, high school gym with a DJ spinning records. I can see those boys standing against the wall. Just as you described. I was the cute, popular girl that danced with the other girls and wondered why the boys just stood there watching and not saying anything or making a move to dance. It never occurred to me that they couldn't dance. I thought they were just either too cool to dance or too shy! Now I know the real reason. What a great poem/story and it sure did bring back lots of memories. ooxx Marti I do the MS Walk everyday!! |
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Klassy Lassy Member Elite
since 2005-06-28
Posts 2187Oregon |
I always wanted to dance, but never really learned how. Sunshine is right; it wouldn't have mattered whether the boy was a good dancer or not, because I couldn't tell my right foot from my left one! I still want to dance, years later, but it's not very probable now. There is no one here who dances. You writing definitely dances, J. I enjoyed this a lot. Karen |
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