no title - 5 minutes old - Writers Forum

Holls · 12-29-2004, 12:31 AM

There’s nothing like taking off pantyhose
after a night at the ballet,
Stretching a leg out and marveling at the archaic
notions of structure
then humming on your way to the bathroom in your underwear
with your silly cat weaving
in and out of step
while you hum an entire love-story
under breath,
so you don’t wake
the sleepers who told you
that ballet is portentous.

Wave one hand over head,
on tip-toe,
while brushing your teeth, and imagine
some wonderful one-dimensional man whisking
you away, perched elegantly atop
his hand – you won’t fall
too deeply in love – at least
not enough, to keep you from bowing and springing
off to bed
to dream of reality.

Beatrice Boyle · 12-29-2004, 02:10 AM

Loved this Holls...reminded me of that wonderful scene in My Fair Lady when Liza reminisced about the ball singing "I could have danced all night!"

Bea

rcallaci · 12-29-2004, 12:29 PM

What a wistfully delightful poem. You made this grurmpy old man smile.

warmest regards,
bob

riadohaed · 12-30-2004, 11:30 AM

i love your stuff! it creates a real feeling, and the sense of irony is terrific... if i picked it up correctly.

gordon · 12-30-2004, 06:12 PM

I must be getting soft nice write made an even grumpier geezer smile
NiCe one Holls
G

Holls · 01-03-2005, 01:46 PM

Thanks for all your comments!

I LOVE the ballet - especially the National Ballet of Canada and go to see them whenever I can...which isn't much these days. I have been going since I was a very little girl and always left with that classic starry-eyed, love-struck and hopeless naive sense of anticipation about my future.
Needless to say, hadn't felt that in a bit and probably won;t for quite some time, but it was refreshing to catch a glimpse of it again while getting ready for bed at midnight

Then again, it may have just been the panty-hose, which I have not worn in about 10 years...anyone who has ever worn them will probably know what I'm talking about.

Rkay · 01-03-2005, 03:43 PM

So that's where you've been these past few days!

I haven't seen the ballet anytime recently. My three sisters were together on stage once for their recital. That experience helped me in getting a feel of this poem.

The pantyhose was just that perfect little springboard to set this poem into motion! Well, when I was onstage in primary school to do bits of Shakesperean stuff (I won't get into detail) we had to use tights once and getting free of that constricting get-up at the end of the night was blissful.

But the best thing is the unassuming way that you took the reader into the poetic persona's movement from an obviously exhilarating night out to the mundane task of brushing teeth and preparing for bed.... all the while humming and pirrouetting.... Beautiful!

"Not for all the jewels in the crown...." as Beatrice has so alluded.....

Good to see you back in the forums,

Ricky

WordBeast · 01-03-2005, 03:56 PM

I very much like this. It flows beautifully, and the attention to detail is wonderful to read. Lovely poem.

WB :>

Holls · 01-03-2005, 03:56 PM

Rkay:
I was in the dreaded hell-hole known as my hometown for the holidays and had a complete and insurmountable creative shut-down.

The past can do that to ya

WB: Thank you! This was really just a burst of babble onto my keyboard and I did not expect such positive feedback (but am delighted nevertheless).
Come to think of it, I have never just typed a poem from mind to computer before...I have always wrote it long hand then typed it out...hmmmm...guess thats a step in...well, some direction. I guess any new direction can't be all bad.

I'm glad to be back and interacting with all you fine-folks again!