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Michael Jackson Dancing

So I was walking down Market Street There's a guy in a suit, with a leotard over the shirt and trousers (but under the jacket) in 28 degree heat His thing was dancing to Michael Jackson's back catalogue Seemed reasonably ok at it, there was a slight crowd I thought, am I the amateur Michael Jackson dance routine in the city centre kind of show off... He was putting his heart and soul into it, it was underwhelming and appears to form no part in a bigger picture but I could imagine the excitement he had picking the day, getting the female friend to mind his speaker, seeing people gather to watch It made me wonder about our desire to be noticed, to exist The next attention grabber was someone stating they played real music, on a real guitar with a real voice... I'd walked too far and didn't hear what he had to offer though I don't know what I'm doing or why, but I seem to be sticking with poetry in the way no hobby has stuck before For the longest time I just wished I could be normal, say normal things, be happy with stuff I should be happy with. Then it turned out, no revelation involved but I'm quirky, my thoughts fire at multiple angles, I'm phased and unphased at totally different stuff than other people and although I can chat about holidays and pop stars (that isn't true), I much prefer an abstract conversation about complete nonsense Poetry has let me test out sharing my weird, getting out my angst, let me spiral my fired up anxiety into words and also impressed upon me that when I try and be normal I bore myself stupid and because it's not my niche I can't be engaging trying to be something I'm not So I've stopped trying to push down my personality, noticed how it really doesn't matter if I'm not for everyone because connecting as myself to people who get it is an absolute buzz I've not got the work ethic to learn every Micheal Jackson dance and I'm glad I can have a good line in a bad poem and still engage (a good moonwalk won't offset a poor woo) but this is my offering, so unpolished that it's practically one continuous sentence... in the background is a poem I'm not sharing, placing this upfront to moonwalk it's way past an unmoved crowd

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Bill Baker

Date: 9/6/2023 8:29:00 AM

I liked your Narrative, D., and I like the way you think. (continuously). Your thought steam seems perfectly normal to me. I've written and few Free Verse poem here at Poetry Soup that dealt with random thoughts were seemed interesting to me, so I shared them. Like you said, some they will resonate with, and most won't think much of them. That's okay, as poets we are just the messenger, the outcome is like life, undetermined at this time. Write On! A poet in Texas, Bill

Di11y Da11y
Date: 9/6/2023 8:40:00 AM

Thanks Bill, it's interesting what swims into focus as you walk around and how they connects with another thought stream. These are throw away poems in a way as I don't develop the thought, but passing thoughts can be interesting as you know :)

Speaks Volumes

Date: 9/4/2023 9:12:00 PM

Like the Michael Jackson dancer, we poets put ourselves out there in front of everyone. I maintain we are brave. You are brave. Take credit in that. I don't think that its always recognition we want. too many factors to say we wont always get it. I liked your poem, D. you surprise me with the candor of your thoughts. You are the most secure, insecure person I know. Or should that be the most insecure, secure person I know. I love our chats. Write on Poetess, you do well.

Di11y Da11y
Date: 9/4/2023 10:20:00 PM

Haha it's very true - I'm not quite sure how I manage two opposite traits! I'll figure that one out eventually too. I know there's no fame in it as a poet and I don't write for fame. I write because I can and it makes me feel better (mostly!) and getting comments does validate that sharing the way my mind works doesn't make everyone run for the hills (just about 75% of people haha)

Vickey Rhymer

Date: 9/4/2023 7:07:00 PM

Saw a girl singing at a bus stop so badly it almost made you want to pay her to stop.Her repertoire vacilated from Amazing Grace,To don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me,then on to eye of the Tiger.She probably had pretty good acoustics as no one would stand under the rain canapy with her.It was horrendous.She was oblivious .

Di11y Da11y
Date: 9/4/2023 10:14:00 PM

It's hard to know the guts it takes to do it and how happy it makes them though - I suppose it's just the pre tik tok way of doing things :)

David Kavanagh

Date: 9/4/2023 2:13:00 PM

I’ve seen these street performers in the Vegas sun dancing in full costume, wigs an all, it’s certainly not easy money, the way you describe that Michael Jackson guy is hilarious, and then use the theme for the narrative is very clever, I enjoyed the trip down market street, cheers David

Di11y Da11y
Date: 9/4/2023 2:57:00 PM

It probably deserved more thought as a poem - there was definitely something more to capture if I'd had the time. He was just so serious about his art but lacking the cusp of greatness you see sometimes with buskers... I don't go to the city centre that much these days, so much was getting my mind firing but I wasn't taking notes