Floor-sweeping gowns
Gracefully turn.
The orchestra plays
In a romantic way.
A corner of skirt
Held in the hand
Beautifully draping
In splendid display.
The couples twirl
across the floor,
Gliding with elegance
In their limbs.
The music floats
Light as a cloud
As feet tilt and turn
And the dance floor skim.
© Susan Joy Clark 2021
This is in response to dVerse’s poetry prompt, Meet the bar waltzing. Bjorn, this was an interesting prompt indeed.
Some of you may know that I am a fan of Gershwin, so I thought of this scene from An American in Paris, Gershwin’s tribute to Strauss. The original lyrics (not included in the movie) include a little joke on himself,
“Away with the music of Broadway!
Be off with your Irving Berlin
Oh, I’d give no quarter
To Kern or Cole Porter
And Gershwin keeps pounding on tin.”
And for some actual Strauss and beautiful waltzing …