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Open Poetry #47
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Counting Steps
| Open Poetry #47 |
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Counting Steps |
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
Counting steps... An ode to clumsiness, my body writes the lines; I have never known why...perhaps being close, And afraid of rejection...shaking, waiting in line Counting down , whose number matches mine; A tall-gangly girl, in a phlegm colored dress Was counting down numbers from the other side. I trembled doing it, stiff -yet shaking. We danced the box step, her face above me; One-two, three- four..two back, two forward- Slide..awkward penguins, counting our steps-- Across a ninth- grade ballroom floor; The pretty girls, had fixed their place's In line-by prior arrangement , danced close- Sliding across the gym with the would-be jocks; Future tuxedo wearers-pinners of corsages, That would darken their senior prom doors. For what reason does history constrict me, After all these years? I have knowledge of rhythm, Sing pretty good, and can play the guitar.. But when my wife suggests, that we get out and dance The long-past (comes out) from its long hidden place; And I am a pimple faced- ninth-grader, counting his steps, Dancing clumsily- rigid, with a tall-gangly girl, Still wearing her phlegm colored dress. Note: When I was in ninth grade, we were forced to take dance lessons, under the threat of failing "gym" ( the only class I ever got stright "A's" in. So I did it, and it was a nightmare for me..although I know that the instrutors were trying to instill a little culture in my life. The girls would line up on one side of the Gym, the boys on the other...each line would merge, and who ever was in the same numerical order, in each line, would be your partner. Hope this makes the poem more clear... BTW This poem was inspired by my wife suggesting that I learn how to dance..... [This message has been edited by ice (05-20-2011 07:17 AM).] |
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| © Copyright 2011 ford hume - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Lori Grosser Rhoden Member Patricius
since 2009-10-10
Posts 10202Fair to middlin' of nowhere |
Excellent! Love how you perfectly captured the way past experiences can color and effect us throughout our lives. This really speaks to me. Lori |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
I concur to an extent, Ice. I don't know how to really dance, but I guess my natural rhythm has saved the day for me over the years. I was a dancing fool back in "tha" sixties, accent on fool, at least I imagined I was, it was according to what drug(s) were floating through my bloodstream that particular day. ~ Plastic surgeons are always making mountains out of molehills. ~ |
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Klassy Lassy Member Elite
since 2005-06-28
Posts 2187Oregon |
I remember sock hops from the 9th grade. I was painfully shy and embarrassed by it all. Most of the boys didn't want to be there, and I could have slipped right through the gym floor cracks if I'd had my way. There was no box step, though, but the two-step and the twist. What a combination! My dance partner was shorter than I, a slightly built farm boy, and I don't think we ever looked each other in the eye. The next dance I attended was a junior prom, too. There wasn't much eye-to-eye contact there, either, since my date was 6'7" tall and I was 5'3" heheh. |
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Dark Stranger Member Patricius
since 2001-03-19
Posts 13631West Coast |
ice... 'rowdy' told me when I was a boy..."at the first dance ever done..no one knew how to dance...they just let the music do things to them." I went and watched for a bit and sure enough....he was right...kewl stuff guy.... |
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Margherita Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236Eternity |
You sure had me smiling here, dear Ford! This is very very lovely, could picture the situation, but I am in the end very sorry for your wife who loves to dance. A little sacrifice for her maybe ... a few dancing lessons, to overcome the original shaking reaction? In my case the counting distracted me from the natural rhythm ... I am the one who lets the music do things to me, as our DS says so well. I was very fortunate, as my favorite Uncle was a very good dancer and I just followed him. He guided me so well, it just felt like flying. I hated dances where the men held you close ... HELP! Good thing that it was rock an' roll time and twist and such  Anyway, thank you for this, much enjoyed reading it and remembering my own experiences.(now my dancing floor is the kitchen and my partner is the cat ...  )Love, Margherita |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Ford....I loved this! |
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
Lori J.P. Klassy Dark Margherita Martie More wonderful replies cannot be asked for. To be understood , to awaken memories and feelings in readers, was the goal of the old romantic poets. Critics have chastized me on occasion for trying to follow that old "worn out" tradition. But it is worth it to me when I get reviews such as these. Namaste--Thank you all. |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
You can tell critics to go to that place where the sun don't shine, ice. Poems like this a re a breath of fresh air in a stale smelling world. Don't stop, please... My grandma used to say that dancing was nothing more than the vertical application of a horizontal idea.....gotta love her!  |
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
Thank you, Balladeer "My grandma used to say that dancing was nothing more than the vertical application of a horizontal idea.....gotta love her" Yes you do, those are words of wisdom I will keep in mind ;-) |
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