Damn, coz…I forgot this poem you submitted…Sorry…and I do remember the context you talked about before writing it….Charming!
Hugs,……’
THE DANCER WITHIN
If I could only dance
With the free abandon
Of a twirly girl
Not caring how I looked
To others
The only thing of importance -
The breeze on my face and
The cool floor
Beneath my bare feet.
If I could only dance
With the precision
Of a well trained ballerina
Assured the curve of my arm
And the bend of my hip
Matched the lines of those
Who danced these same
Steps a century ago.
But I dance in between
The abandon of child
And the precision of a ballerina.
And yet I dance!
Marjorie Chester
Copyrighted, 2009
Margie said this was one of the first poems since High School….but there is nothing missing from it, because it IS charming. She wrote it after watching her granddaughter twirl around in front of her, with this rapturous expression on her face. I remember her words, and I remember how deeply seeing this child dance effected her.
The poem is so natural, honest, it impacts me, too. Juxtaposing the naturalness of a child’s movements, without training, this inherent ability to feel rhythm and move without self-consciousness, and the training of a ballerina, with all the Self-consciousness, and precision, how the narrator settles for that in-between state, and it’s fine…completes the moment…Well, this little poem is rich with not only memories but has made the transition to resonance.
And I love these words “a twirly girl”….LOL!
Well done, coz.
Lady Nyo
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Tags: Lyric Poetry, Margie Chester, More Poetry!
June 16, 2009 at 2:41 am
Thanks so much for your lovely comments. I love the “twirly” girl reference also, because that’s exactly what she is!
This is really fun (as well as tortuous!) and I’m sure I’ll be writing some more.
June 16, 2009 at 3:17 am
I encourage you. It was honest and natural.
The best of poetry is.
Jane
June 16, 2009 at 7:53 am
Hi Margie,
I don’t know who you are (does “coz” mean “cousin”? You’re Jane’s cousin?) but this was a very lovely poem that explored the opposite poles of artistic freedom and discipline – there is merit in both sides of the coin, of course, but that you dance with a foot in each camp, so to speak, sounds truly marvellous! Thanks for sharing this delightful poem.
Nick
June 16, 2009 at 9:54 am
Margie, I relate to this so much – the poem and the style. I’ve always had the desire to dance but with not training and the “wrong” kind of body, never did – except for a bried foray into belly dance, which I suspect I’ll revist. This is a very satisfying poem for me to read.
Susan
June 16, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Thank you Nick and Susan for reading and for commenting on my poem. It was a wonderful experience to write it, and I’m very glad I shared it here.
Jane’s cousin,
Margie
July 2, 2009 at 7:54 am
Neat.