May I have this Dance?

April 11, 2013 by margaretsmn

Today is my turn to take on the Progressive Poem. The idea of this fun way to celebrate National Poetry Month comes from Irene Latham of Live Your Poem. I have to thank Linda Baie at Teacher Dance for inviting me to this poetry playground and for adding the last line. You can follow along using the link list on the sidebar. It all began with Amy Ludwig VanDerwater at The Poem Farm. I love her site. She is sharing sketches with poetic thoughts this month.

I have been watching this poem develop into a beautiful dance with words. Thinking with trepidation about where my line may fit, where it will lead. If it is even worthy. All that stuff. But when it came time to write, my feet started jitterbuggin’ and my fingers tapping, so here goes.

When you listen to your footsteps
the words become music and
the rhythm that you’re rapping gets your fingers tapping, too.
Your pen starts dancing across the page
a private pirouette, a solitary samba until
smiling, you’re beguiling as your love comes shining through.

Pause a moment in your dreaming, hear the whispers
of the words, one dancer to another, saying
Listen, that’s our cue! Mind your meter. Find your rhyme.
Ignore the trepidation while you jitterbug and jive.
Arm in arm, toe to toe, words begin to wiggle and flow

Now on to you, Linda Kulp!

Posted in Poetry | Tagged Irene Latham, kidlitosphere, Progressive poem | 19 Comments

19 Responses

on April 11, 2013 at 11:17 am | Reply blkdrama

I love it! I am so filled with music this poem if so wonderful… What a great idea!
on April 11, 2013 at 12:40 pm | Reply Linda Baie

Love the idea of the words all working together, Margaret, of course, like dancers, “arm in arm, toe to toe”!
on April 11, 2013 at 12:42 pm | Reply Laura Shovan

I love how this poem has moved from “solitary samba” to words line dancing in unison.
on April 11, 2013 at 3:16 pm | Reply Tara

Lovely – the pace is picking up, and the mood is lightening.
on April 11, 2013 at 6:43 pm | Reply Catherine Johnson

I love your line, Margaret! wiggle and toe to toe are so cute and fun.
on April 11, 2013 at 6:50 pm | Reply Joanna

I am so behind on this. I am loving the changes of pace. Margaret, great addition!
on April 11, 2013 at 9:32 pm | Reply Penny Klostermann

Love “words begin to wiggle”. Great addition, Margaret!
on April 11, 2013 at 10:56 pm | Reply Janet F.

So curious to see where these wiggling, flowing words are going to take us now. This line just fits so nicely, Margaret.
on April 11, 2013 at 11:11 pm | Reply Julie Larios

I’m beginning to wonder if anyone can sit still reading this! Gotta go put something jivey on the high-fi (maybe Chuck Berry? Jerry Lee Lewis?) Lively contribution, Margaret.
on April 12, 2013 at 12:50 am | Reply Carrie Finison

“Arm in arm, toe to toe” — I love that image. Nicely done, Margaret.
on April 12, 2013 at 2:13 am | Reply Irene Latham

Thank you, Margaret! I do like that wiggle. 🙂 Sorry to be so late to this – out of town! I appreciate so much your contribution!
on April 12, 2013 at 3:02 am | Reply mattforrest

Love the image of the words dancing!
on April 13, 2013 at 1:06 am | Reply Circus time! Progressive Poem 2013 | Catherine Johnson

[…] Gayle Krouse Day 7: Janet Fagal Day 8: Julie Larios Day 9: Carrie Finison Day 10: Linda Baie Day 11: Margaret Simon Day 12: Linda Kulp Day 13: Catherine Johnson (here) Day 14: Heidi Mordhorst Day 15: Mary Lee Hayn […]
on April 13, 2013 at 2:41 am | Reply Wilcox Carol

It’s amazing to watch this poem unfold. I can’t figure out how all of you manage to write one line with the right beat and the right flow and have it mean something and sound so good! Wow!
- on April 13, 2013 at 11:59 am | Reply margaretsmn
  
  I was surprised at how easily the line came to me. When you work with good poets, it all just fits right in. Thanks for your comment. I am anxious to watch as the poem continues to progress.
on April 13, 2013 at 11:18 am | Reply Renee LaTulippe

Lovely, Margaret! I like that you’ve given us this lighthearted turn…and with “arm in arm, toe to toe” I’m picturing my favorite dance, the quickstep! 🙂
- on April 13, 2013 at 2:45 pm | Reply margaretsmn
  
  What a treat to have you stop in, Renee! I am loving this month of poetry fun. I enjoy dancing with other poets.
on April 23, 2013 at 11:00 am | Reply Kidlitosphere 2013 Progressive Poem | Miss Marple's Musings

[…] Krouse Day 7: Janet Fagal Day 8: Julie Larios Day 9: Carrie Finison Day 10: Linda Baie Day 11: Margaret Simon Day 12: Linda Kulp Day 13: Catherine Johnson Day 14: Heidi Mordhorst Day 15: Mary Lee Hayn Day […]
on April 24, 2013 at 11:17 am | Reply 2013 Progressive Poem | Write. Sketch. Repeat. — Katya Czaja

[…] Krouse Day 7: Janet Fagal Day 8: Julie Larios Day 9: Carrie Finison Day 10: Linda Baie Day 11: Margaret Simon Day 12: Linda Kulp Day 13: Catherine Johnson Day 14: Heidi Mordhorst Day 15: Mary Lee Hayn Day […]