The following poem needs a few definitions for those unfamiliar with French
or ballet terms.
Arabesque: (ar-a-besk) stand on one leg, other leg extended back with knee
straight, arms out
Pirouette: (peer-oo-et) a full turn of the body on the top of the toe or the
ball of the foot
Releve': (rel-vay) rise up from the whole foot onto the ball of the
foot
Demi plie': (dem-ee plee-ay) half bend of the knees
Port de bras: (por-de-bra) continual movement of the arms through a series
of positions
Fouette: (foo-ay-tay) a series of turns on one leg, the other leg extending
rapidly to the side and whipping around the body
Glissade: (glee-sahd or glee-sad) a connecting sliding step
Muck Dance Ballet
When corrals turn to mush
and all dirt roads are slush,
springtime has arrived at our place.
The challenge begins
since I'm sans webs or fins
to walk outside with upright grace.
I don my galoshes
and cov'ralls that washes
to feed stock that wait in the lots.
By the time I return
I will honestly earn
my dˇcor of brown and green spots.
As I step in the slop
my galoshes do flop
as ankle-deep mud gets a grip.
In slow forward motion
I ease through this potion,
resisting the muck's pull to slip.
I feed several hay bales
and balance two grain pails,
while working my way through the soup.
But before I am through
I'll lose one boot or two
from suction of that muddy goop.
THWOOP!
My foot's poised in the air
as I (gasp) wobble up there.
I execute an arabesque,
a slow pirouette
so I shan't get all wet.
What I need is a chair or a desk!
My predicament here
since my boot is so near
is to turn it around in the slop.
My balance must hold
while my foot's in this mold,
and fearing my body will drop.
A controlled releve'
and demi plie'
are more than my posture can stand.
A wild port de bras,
while I desperately claw,
finds me catching the ground with my hand.
I snap a fouette'
and turn the other way.
I manage a slippery glissade.
For it's not every day
you see Muck Dance Ballet-
just when ankle deep mud makes you wade.
©2002 Terry Henderson