Poem – When We Dance Together
Lynda stands beside her Blue Dragon –
Lynda McKinney Lambert – Author
Walking by Inner Vision –
Seeking Euphoria
Song Lyrics _ Writing Lesson
Revised from the originally posted on July 23, 2015, by Lynda Lambert
Instructions:
Step One:
Select a song lyric that you like or even one that you don’t like.
Use one or two lines from that song as the theme for your new poem.
Example:
I chose
“Waltz Across Texas” by Ernest Tubb. Listen now
I like this classic country song because my husband and I loved to dance to it. This song also brings back memories of dancing with my husband at Gilley’s, July 1980. +
We flew into Houston over the July 4th weekend to attend the big party at Gilley’s. The air was so hot it took your breath away as we got off the plane. We rented a car and drove across Texas for a week. We found other places where we could dance as we traveled across the state. Bob and I danced at night and one morning around 6 am, we had the entire dance floor to ourselves at…..yep, you guessed it – Gilley’s.
You can listen to Mickey Gilley talking about how he came to Paradise and opened Gilley’s. Listen now
**
Step 2:
Select one or two lines from the song as a place to begin your poem.
Example:
I chose the first two lines of “Waltz Across Texas.”
I wanted to write a poem about riding my motorcycle because riding is like a dance that you do with the bike. It is a wonderful feeling to ride with the wind and the road, and my friends. Despite the power and weight of the bike, it requires that you have a delicate hand – finesse – in order to ride well. When you do, it is pure magic like nothing else I can think of.
What am I doing in the poem?
Who is with me?
How des it feel to be with this group of people ?
How do I share my experience with the reader?
*
In the poem, I am riding the motorcycle on a frigid – cold day
with a group of other women riders.
**
The first two lines of the song are:
“When we dance together, my world’s in disguise.”
“It’s a bizarre fairyland tale,” by Ernest Tubb.
Step 3:
Choose the format you will use for the poem.
Example:
I chose the Pantoum format because the repeating lines can give the poem some speed and energy by repeating lines. This gives my poem rhythm and movement
Note: For directions to writing the Pantoum form, click on my article at this link:
http://lyndalambert.com/you-can-write-a-pantoum/
Here is the PANTOUM I wrote about my motorcycle and my friends.
What do you think about this poem?
Did you learn anything new about riding a motorcycle?
Do you think you might like to try writing a PANTOUM about something you like a lot, too? What would YOU write about?
Lynda on her bike, The Blue Dragon
**
When We Dance Together
When we dance together, my world’s in disguise
Concealed behind black leather jackets
Dense fringes snap in the wind
We spiral downward – a bizarre fairyland tale.
Concealed behind black leather jackets
I hunker down against the brisk mountain air
We spiral downward – a bizarre fairyland tale
Wild rock-n-roll women in masquerade.
I hunker down against the brisk mountain air
The throbbing steel tank between my legs
Wild rock-n-roll women in masquerade
Neon surges through our veins.
The throbbing steel tank between my legs
With the rumble of Cobra Drags
Neon surges through our veins.
Lean into the slanting wind that blows us around.
With the rumble of Cobra Drags
We ride side by side, with stars in our eyes
Lean into the slanting wind that blows us around.
I raise the fist of my icy cold left hand
We ride side by side, with stars in our eyes,
On the rough pavement of the dance floor
I raise the fist of my icy cold left hand
Reach out to catch the storm.
On the rough pavement of the dance floor
Laughing with the painful gusts of rain
Reach out to catch the storm
Dancing together in disguise.
**
Note:
This poem is a Pantoum form.
Lynda McKinney Lambert. Copyright, 2013. All Rights Reserved.
Poem Published:
When We Dance Together (2013)
_Wordgathering, On-Line Literary Journal, September Issue, 2013
_Lambert, Lynda McKinney. Star Signs, 2019
_first snow, chapbook, 30 Poems by Lynda Lambert, Finishing Line Press, 2020
_Newsreel, Audio Magazine, August Issue, 2021.
Copyright, 2013, 2015, 2021. Lynda McKinney Lambert. All rights reserved.
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