Classic Ballroom Dances by Charles Simic


Grandmothers who wring the necks
Of chickens; old nuns
With names like Theresa, Marianne,
Who pull schoolboys by the ear;

The intricate steps of pickpockets
Working the crowd of the curious
At the scene of an accident; the slow shuffle
Of the evangelist with a sandwich board;

The hesitation of the early-morning customer
Peeking through the window grille
Of a pawnshop; the weave of a little kid
Who is walking to school with eyes closed;

And the ancient lovers, cheek to cheek,
On the dance floor of the Union Hall,
Where they also hold charity raffles
On rainy Monday nights of an eternal November.


please note: photo by Larry Fink

Comments

  1. I do so hope that I will be able to take dancing lessons with my husband before all is said and done!

    Your chosen poem and photo are both sublime.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The dance ends
    where the heart stops.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Excellent duo, that poem and photo.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Hey, thanks for your thoughts and your time:>)

Popular posts from this blog

A Year with EB White

The Poet Goes to Indiana by Mary Oliver

Goldfinches by Mary Oliver