After the last interview, rise, take their hand, follow to the floor,
Face to face, centered. The first turn, arm to waist.
Striding, led into a dip, almost a drop, losing center, arm grips waist.
Sometimes you stumble. One in heels. One leads.
Gliding, never stumbling, follow their lead.
You’re partners, but they take your wins, leave the losses. Hold tight.
Their moods make your weather. Win or lose, smiles tight.
Read their minds, whatever the weather, time to dance.
Dance card reads full for months, years. What is time
but catching the rhythm, holding the jitters close
until the sweat, the gaze come to a jittery close?
One of you steps back, stops still after a twirl.
Every song ends. Will you bow on the last twirl?
Or rise up and storm out, dragging your mink on the floor?
Bruce E. Whitacre’s debut collection, The Elk in the Glade: The World of Pioneer and Painter Jennie Hicks, was a BookLife Reviews Editor’s Pick and Indy Spotlight. It also placed second in Contemporary Poetry at The BookFest Spring 2023. Publications include The American Journal of Poetry, World Literature Today, Life and Legends, The Mandarin, and Nine Cloud Journal. His work as appeared in anthologies from Southern Arizona Press (Castles and Courtyards, 2023, and The Wonders of Winter, 2022) and Milk and Cake Press (I Wanna Be Loved by You: Poems on Marilyn Monroe, 2021). “Leave Meeting” was a sample poem in Diane Lockward’s craft book The Strategic Poet (Terrapin Books 2021). He has garnished nominations for Pushcart and Best of the Net. Good Housekeeping is forthcoming in 2024 from Poets Wear Prada. A retired theatre executive, he lives with his husband in Queens, NY.
Image: “Vintage Trio” by Nicole Monroe
Pine Hills Review 