Poem - Shade of Memory Past

Social dancing, and the relationships that spring from it, are a momentary blessing. Unfortunately life goes on, people move on with life, and we lose the treasured dancers of today. The poem “Shade of Memory Past” is about the unfortunate transitional qualities of dancing, and life in general.


Shade of Memory Past
Poem for Day 015 – 20150115

We were natural dancers,
borne to play the part,
our dance was closer than arm's length,
bodies matched to the task.
Where I ended, and you began,
blurred as we found our beat.
The music of the band started
our syncopation of the heart.

The dancing mellowed,
matured as we found our place,
it should have lasted forever,
but by villainous time we were betrayed.
Time once marked our dancing in hours,
the recesses between in days.
Now it uses the calendar
to mark the months I've not seen your face.

Our season passed, the wheel turned on,
I have your company no more,
my arms once held you close,
and now they hold another in your place.
I dance with others,
they play their part,
but their dance is poor copy
to the ways our bodies did embrace.

Father Time, you've had your trick.
return my dancer to their place.
Bring them to my side post haste
and I will forgive your rude surprise.
I had found a partner, more than that,
with whom I was destined to dance.
It seemed we were to be partners evermore,
but now I dance with a shade of memory past.

© 2015. Sean Green. All Rights Reserved.

Poem - Dance of the Foolish Masters

Dancing, especially social dancing, can be a challenging experience.  Be you the asker or the askee, the act of talking to a stranger and then getting on the dance floor with them, can be an incredible hurdle.  So much seems to be at stake.  I have to let everyone in on a secret.  The purpose of dancing is not to look the best or get dances with the most glamorous people.  The purpose of dancing is to connect, and in the end, just to get a smile from another person as you do something incredibly special with them.

Dance of the Foolish Masters
Bonus Poem for Day 015 – 20150115

How shall I dance tonight,
with so much is at stake?
I may look the fool,
or dance like a fish.
Reputations made,
disgrace proclaimed,
tonight I could dance,
if I were only brave.

Look to the floor,
the foolish are there,
along with the masters.
How to tell these apart?
The former have no fear,
the latter this too!
Perhaps they are the same,
foolish masters lead the way!

Would you dance with me?
Lead me to the floor.
Only we will be here,
this is enough for me.
Throw caution to the wind,
and just return my smile.
I'll dance for you,
and you can dance for me.

© 2015. Sean Green. All Rights Reserved.