Because of Covid-19 many people are spending much of their time at home; and some writers are using this time to write articles and books. And it also seems to be a time for reflection.

Sometimes I go back to the time when I was three years old and Gene Kelly, whose mother had a dance studio in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, taught me how to tie my shoes.  And he instilled in me a love of dancing which I have to this day.  This thought brings me forward many years later when a group of dancers in a Broadway production offered the women in the audience an opportunity to come up to the stage and dance a cross-over from one side to the other with one of their dancers.  Needless to say, once I arrived on stage, I wouldn’t let go of the dancer’s hand and he and I danced for several minutes.  And during intermission, many people asked me if I had been part of the show?  Even now it  is a kick to be  able to say “I danced on Broadway”!!

Of course, this brought me to the pinnacle of my dance experience.  In the year 2000 to 2005, I danced with my dance partner, Sid, on Cruise Ships teaching the passengers. It was one of the happy classes which interfered with the ever expanding waist lines provided by the huge Buffets.  And it afforded me an opportunity to see some parts of the world that I, perhaps, would not have been able to afford.  My partner and I traveled and taught on many different Cruise lines in wonderful countries such as Australia, Italy, South America, states such as Alaska, Hawaii, New York, and places such as the Caribbean, British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, etc. etc. etc.  It was a grand way to live those five years

And speaking of reflection, this brings me to a time when I loved to write rhyming words.  I don’t especially  see them as poems but as thoughts of the day in meaningful words.  Some of it is Haiku, spoken word poetry, narrative poetry, nonsense poetry  and some actually are poems.  I like to think of Maya Angelo, Shel Silberstein and E.E. Cummings.  A pretty good crowd, don’t you think?

So here are some of my thoughts many years ago.

Snowflakes and Blizzards

Here I am up in the sky
And I see another cloud passing by
Floating, flying, lifting and falling
And finally on mountains landing
Brr, it’s cold up here, so cold I’m turning blue
No, that’s not right, look at me, I’m turning white
Like a glorious fountain I’ m spraying into pieces
Diamond like pieces sparkling by the sun’s light
Oh, what fun I’m having
Dancing to music as I’m landing
On cars and coats and children everywhere
But suddenly there’s a roar in the atmosphere
What’s happening?  The sun is gone.  It’s turning gray
The laughter is silenced as wild wind changes the day
Into darkness and danger and fear all around
As bodies slip and slide and crash onto the ground
What once was beauty and laughter and light
Has turned day into night and given us a freight

Is it possible we look at our lives the same way
The ups and downs and the changes each day
The goal is to walk through the storm
Our heads held high
Feel the cold on our face as we look to the sky
And know in our hearts that a new day will glow
As long as we accept that our life will ebb and flow

One Summer Day in Maine

The assignment this week is to write about Spring
And I was SO ready to write of my fling
You have all heard and experienced a spring fling, I am sure
But to go into my story would be a total bore
And, frankly, it would be folk lore

So, I’ll change direction in describing this season
and say that this spring is doing a lot of teasin’
First, it’s sunny then hot and then dark
The flowers not sure if it’s safe to come out  in the park
Because although we welcome the rain
The temperatures in the 30’s are really a pain
So I’ll have to be patient and welcome spring in June
because Mainers know that our one day of summer will be here soon.

This one is more political

Oh, Say Can You See?

There once was a man named George
Who thought our country he could forge
Not the George who cut down the tree
But the George who made us less free
And that is not the end of my story

There once was a man named Gore
Who many thought was a bore
He cared about our rivers, water and air
But would not fight for an election fair
And now because of George,
Our world faces all out war

I know that many with me will not agree
But, thank God, we still live in a country that’s free
Where we are able to express openly our opinions and fears
To applause or boos or anger or cheers
I love our country,  “Oh say can you see?…”

Rat-a Tat-Tat

Rat-a Tat-Tat. Rat-a Tat-Tat
There goes another soldier down
Rat-a Tat-Tat, Rat- a -Tat-Tat
My world has turned upside down

Our troops in Iraq like sitting ducks
I respect them still for their guts
By serving in a war that has no end
because our President will not bend

I’m asked to write about things over
which I have no control
I silently scream my tears do flow
Then I write letters to end this nightmare
Hoping to bring peace to my soul

Where will it end?  How can it end?
We do not know
There goes another soldier down
Open your eyes and watch his blood flow