Square Dance O'Clock

     This was the first workshopped poem for Dr. Mackie's Poetry Writing course at Rogers State, fall 2015. The format is a pantoum, which kind of goes in circles...a lot like everyone doing the Gay Gordon. Really, I'm not sure why I picked a square dance as the subject for this poem; I was just working on a fiction project where there was a square dance coming up and so I whipped this up as practice. I'll probably post updated versions as it goes through revision.
     Most classmates mostly liked it; they had some good suggestions amidst the arguments about what actually happens at a dance (between those who were familiar with them and those who weren't) and there was much discussion/argument of my use of collaquilisms. It was interesting to watch. The lighthearted tone was appreciated; especially since this week has been rather stormy. A lot of folks said they felt like they actually were there, so that was good.    

It’s time for the dance!

 Bring out fiddle, mandolin, guitar;

 Fix up the place all shiny,

 Folks are comin’ from afar.

 Bring out fiddle, mandolin, guitar;

 Tune ‘em to sing of Carra Lee

 Folks are comin’ from afar

 Hear ‘em jawing merrily?

 Tune ‘em up to sing of Carra Lee;

 Young people, unsure of their steps,

 Hear ‘em jawing merrily;

 Parents recall their courtin’ days,

 Young people, unsure of their steps,

 Wallflower garden grows on the porch.

 Parents recall their courtin’ days

 Stirring up the Dog Branch

 While wallflower gardens grew on the porch.

 Fix up the place all shiny,

 Stir up the Dog Branch;

 It’s time for the dance.