Graceful Ghost
A graceful ghost
plays stumble bum
pianissimo
and shuffles
off the buffalo
his astaire frayed and threadbare.
He lurches with the snap
into a minor key.
The melody wanders like a lost soul
dancing on the ceiling.
Caterwauled and vaulted
into stone heaven,
his echo re-echoes
fanfare and flourish,
percussive steel toes play taps
in remorse code,
a bit of the old soft shoe.
Marleyed Boo Jangles
taxidancing with Madame X
for spare prophecy.
This is the melody I unchained in life...
Dana Pattillo
