I have these dance shoes
full size, my size now
taps on soles like woodpecker nose
silenced in a drawer.
Could make loud flaps
not with wings but toes
not on trees but floors
shuffle off to buffalo
make myself be known.
Had smaller ones years ago
noisy kid on taps on tap
poured out energy bar none
little girl was big out there
brave feet shushed by none.
Maybe I should tap again.
Written for Holly Wren Spaulding’s class. Prompt: “free yourself from the standard rules of English syntax” and perhaps also write about something that could have another meaning. Two ways to read to my post today: 1) read only the lines that are not indented to find the poem within the poem; and 2) read the entire thing. As the phrase goes, popularized when Senator Elizabeth Warren was silenced in a congressional hearing not so long ago, “She persisted.” (We shall not be shushed.) For the non-tap dancers: a flap is a tap step, as is the shuffle-off-to-buffalo. And yes, those are my shoes in my drawer and yes, that’s me many many many years ago! Shared with dVerse where today is open link time – meaning anyone can share one poem with dVerse readers – the virtual pub for poets across the globe. Come post your own or imbibe some words! Bar opens at 3 PM Boston time.
lillian the home poet 
Fabulous! 🌹😇
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Yes you should… I have never had shoes like that, but I would have loved to try it…
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Oh I love this 😀 a poem within a poem… ❤️ sigh… now that’s what I call fabulous wordsmitting!❤️
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I liked the line “brave feet shushed by none”. I think you should tap again.
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At least three poems deep–wow–indented, not so, & combined–love me some tap dancing. Very good use of the prompt, & nice personal sharing.
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I love the concept of the poem within the poem. May your taps never be shushed!
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Tap, tap, tap away Lillian ~ I saw a video of the young kids tap dancing in the street & they were delightful to watch ~
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Wonderful and such an amazing creative writing of poetic energy and smiles. 🙂
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this was something new to me, a poem that can be read in two different ways and have different meanings weaved in, empowering thoughts in the deeper meaning. You were a cutie then and I suppose still are now!
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Sweet poem.
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Like the poem within the poem form!
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“Shuffle off to Buffalo”, also has another meaning, as a phrase used, around southern Ontario, for cross-border shopping. Not as many people are doing this, these days, with the low exchange rate between the Canadian and American dollar.
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The entire poem is delicious. I could not pick out one part over another! Oh, well, maybe “taps on soles like woodpecker nose”
and
“Could make loud flaps
not with wings but toes
not on trees but floors”
Wish I’d written it but then those aren’t my shoes!
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No wonder there is often a buoyant danciness in your works. Tap, tap, tap on, Lillian!
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For me, the line “silenced in a drawer” was pleasantly unexpected, creating a nice hook to the poem! ~ peace, Jason
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Like those dance steps – this is a fun filled write. Enjoyed it.
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So glad you enjoyed! 🙂
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tap-by-tap i can hear your toes aloud. enjoyed it 🙂
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Always glad to share a dance! 🙂
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I like the poem within a poem.. unique. I like the poem and pictures too. I hope you tap tap tap on through rejuvenation.
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I’m a tap-dance kind of gal. Will need to get them out again😊
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