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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


JEREMIAD ON DANCING by P. C. CALHOUN

First Line: EVERY NIGHT WHEN I HITCH THE ELASTIC
Last Line: WHY DO I LIKE IT? I WONDER!
Subject(s): DANCING & DANCERS;

Every night when I hitch the elastic
Which fastens my vest to my pants,
I agree with the viewpoint monastic:
It's a silly amusement to dance,
To handle a gun or a lance --
There's a man's job; but dancing -- aw, thunder!
(Or la! la! as spoken in France)
Why do I like it, I wonder?

Aside from the somewhat fantastic
Idea some persons advance,
That the fox-trot and waltz are gymnastic,
It's a silly amusement to dance,
One trips over young debutantes --
(The evening's one vast social blunder),
Or stumbles around with one's aunts;
Why do I like it, I wonder?

Am I mistakenly drastic?
Am I as one who but rants,
Knowing nothing? Or am I just plastic?
It's a silly amusement to dance,
That's sure . . . (Hark! The waltz from "Penzance"!
Or is it "Get Out and Get Under"?
Anyway, it's a strange dissonance --
Why do I like it, I wonder?)

@3L'Envoi@1

Say, kid! Come on -- take a chance!
(It's a silly amusement to dance,
But I can't have her think that I shunned her.)
Why do I like it? I wonder!



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