POEM OF THE DAY
Oracione: A Dance is Promised for Clarissa, Kathy, and Mel
Look, the stars with their long needles
have sewn your foot to the dark river.
"What beautiful socks you have, prettier
than two comets," say they as they stitch.
"Daughter, what takes so long?
You haven't forgot your wings?
A dance has been promised
and the whole family is here
with all of us together
to stomp out the beat,
the music cannot fail
and we will fear nothing."
"The river flows on," whispers an elder
words beginning to be the song
the old man beginning to be a man
the man beginning to sing,
"and the river is all that there is.
Everything changes, and the river flows on."
The old women laugh, and say:
"This thing may be a man today."
The old women say, "Daughter,
the men have begun to sing
you must come and dance
so the men may be men tonight."
"Don't tell us you're tired.
We know you can dance forever if you want.
Even old bones, these rags and tatters
can dance tonight. A dance is promised.
What, you only have this old dress?
Turn that old skin inside out
and come out and dance."
The whole tribe makes a circle
for you, shuffle and stamp,
longmothers, ghostdancers, and holy clowns,
we are finding the rhythm,
we may begin to be human tonight,
for a dance is promised
and you are the dancer.
Wind rustles shed leaves for you,
The last crickets sing their hearts out for you,
God's dog yelps out his coyote blues just for you,
The stars wheel in cotillion
praising your beautiful socks,
for there is a music that runs
through it all that changes everything
and the music flows on
for a dance is promised
and you are the dancer.
Dana Pattillo
PoD 59
5:58:21 PM 
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