Square Dancing

The little kids rush
the circle
toes squished like raisins
minus the sun
I used to rush the circle
grabbing sweaty hands
spinning past
no names
and prominent professionals
they were all the same to me
there are four corners to a square
this is where the trouble starts
little kids
rush the circle
never mindful of the rules
gleeful
without the corral
of someone else's idea
of fun
always better to
run...
every square dance
has a leader
an uninvolved reader
pulling do-se-dos
and alamand lefts
from his back pocket
like the memories
of third grade
first day
in a new school
let's square dance
gym class nightmare
I say he never forgot
the cootie covered hands
revenge is sweet
think of all those
bruised feet

(c)Angela Copeland                   2008

published in Skipping Stones, Vol VI

Mindworm Press, Chesapeake, VA