Waltzing to Strauss

Photo by Scott Broome on Unsplash

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 …