Notes About The Poem

I saw poetry in action, full color – right out in the open parking lot.  A white older model car pulls up and parks crooked between the spaces.  A bent old man emerges, wild white hair blowing, a hump on his right shoulder and glasses.  He shuffle-walks to the back of the car, inserts his key and opens the trunk.   Before I could move, he is wresting a wheelchair out of the car.  It lands with thud on the pavement and he is already moving to the passenger side of the car.   He opens the door and bends inside the car – what is he doing?  He unlocks her seatbelt, turns her body to face him, places her legs on the pavement, swings her arms over his neck, lifts, twist and somehow gets her in the wheelchair.  She smiles at him, big red eyes, more wide hair – then it hits me, I had just witnessed a love dance between two old lovers.  Many years they have danced  -- knowing each other’s moves, anticipating the dip and run, the smile that conveys understanding  . . .  but now the moves are stiff, slow, awkward but the joy of the togetherness is strong and vibrate.  He is taking care of her “in sickness or in health” and she is thanking him with smiling eyes – the dance continues.  Here is my attempt to capture this lover’s dance with a tanka  . . .  all the best.            

 

Tanka 2 Life Dance

a man bent with age
opens trunk, heaves  . . .  wheelchair lifts  --- plop


                                                                 a love dance begins


frail arms link, lift, hug, swirl, down
                                      dosey doe  - death do us part







David Meade
November 7, 2014
Live Generously
Copyright © | Year Posted 2014

Poem

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Mohn Avatar
November 14, 2014 at 9:26 PM
Wonerful David, I have read a few of your Haiku and stopped to comment on this touching Tanka...you have a unique and soulful touch...nicely written and expressed
Adams Avatar
November 12, 2014 at 3:58 PM
How very special, that you saw beyond the physical to the reality, and that you captured it for us. Thank you. I give it a seven.
Kiser Avatar
November 10, 2014 at 2:41 PM
Now, there's a vision.
Meade Avatar
November 11, 2014 at 8:11 AM
Not sure you would find it on "Dancing with the Stars" but it was fun to watch. They nailed the ending! Hope you are dancing today.
Devnath  Avatar
November 9, 2014 at 6:49 AM
Loved the dance more...."the smile that conveys understanding" what they have done well. Excellent piece. Loved always, my friend,bl
Meade Avatar
November 11, 2014 at 8:16 AM
Thank-you BL, hope you are enjoying a dance today!
Biles Avatar
November 8, 2014 at 2:49 PM
All your work, short and sweet. Enjoying it. -TJ
Meade Avatar
November 11, 2014 at 8:12 AM
thank-you Trinity -- may you always dance with love and hope!
Petersen Potter Avatar
November 8, 2014 at 3:20 AM
and what a loving dance it was, David! You've penned this haiku pretty well. Lol ...:) love and hugs! xxxx D.
Meade Avatar
November 11, 2014 at 8:13 AM
Thank-you Ms. Potter -- I hope you are dancing the day away!! love and light
Cruz Avatar
November 8, 2014 at 3:12 AM
very good David Isnt this a tanka? lovely work
Meade Avatar
November 11, 2014 at 8:14 AM
Yes, a tanka -- just seeing if you were awake. Thank-you for stopping by -- may all your days be filled with dancing and hope.
Dietrich Avatar
November 7, 2014 at 10:30 PM
Wonderful!!
Meade Avatar
November 11, 2014 at 8:16 AM
Your the best -- keep on dancing.
Bateman Avatar
November 7, 2014 at 5:55 PM
A very well-done Tanka David. I enjoyed the imagery here too. Best!! Gary
Meade Avatar
November 7, 2014 at 8:13 PM
thank-you my friend -- keep on dancing . . .
Mcdaid Avatar
November 7, 2014 at 2:39 PM
very beautifully crafted david
Meade Avatar
November 7, 2014 at 8:14 PM
From the man who know how to dance with the ladies and whisper love poetry in their ear! All the best.
Roper Avatar
November 7, 2014 at 1:23 PM
how beautiful David , your talent outshines :) eve
Meade Avatar
November 7, 2014 at 8:15 PM
thank-you, I see you have your dancing shoes on . . . hold on tight!
Allison Avatar
November 7, 2014 at 11:48 AM
aww this is so touching David its a 7 from me:-) Hugs Jan xx
Allison Avatar
November 8, 2014 at 3:29 AM
I love reading and being inspired by the work of others David - that is the way I am learning and growing - I am pretty new to poetry only having started posting in February:-) hugs jan xx
Meade Avatar
November 7, 2014 at 8:18 PM
You are the sweetest . . . a girl who dances in the bright sun giving inspirations to others . . . sweet is your dance.
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