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Tanka 2 Life Dance

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I saw poetry in action, full color – right out in the open parking lot.  A white older model car pulls up and parks crooked between the spaces.  A bent old man emerges, wild white hair blowing, a hump on his right shoulder and glasses.  He shuffle-walks to the back of the car, inserts his key and opens the trunk.   Before I could move, he is wresting a wheelchair out of the car.  It lands with thud on the pavement and he is already moving to the passenger side of the car.   He opens the door and bends inside the car – what is he doing?  He unlocks her seatbelt, turns her body to face him, places her legs on the pavement, swings her arms over his neck, lifts, twist and somehow gets her in the wheelchair.  She smiles at him, big red eyes, more wide hair – then it hits me, I had just witnessed a love dance between two old lovers.  Many years they have danced  -- knowing each other’s moves, anticipating the dip and run, the smile that conveys understanding  . . .  but now the moves are stiff, slow, awkward but the joy of the togetherness is strong and vibrate.  He is taking care of her “in sickness or in health” and she is thanking him with smiling eyes – the dance continues.  Here is my attempt to capture this lover’s dance with a tanka  . . .  all the best.            

 

a man bent with age opens trunk, heaves . . . wheelchair lifts --- plop a love dance begins frail arms link, lift, hug, swirl, down dosey doe - death do us part David Meade November 7, 2014 Live Generously

Copyright © | Year Posted 2014




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Date: 11/14/2014 9:26:00 PM
Wonerful David, I have read a few of your Haiku and stopped to comment on this touching Tanka...you have a unique and soulful touch...nicely written and expressed
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Date: 11/12/2014 3:58:00 PM
How very special, that you saw beyond the physical to the reality, and that you captured it for us. Thank you. I give it a seven.
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Date: 11/10/2014 2:41:00 PM
Now, there's a vision.
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David Meade
Date: 11/11/2014 8:11:00 AM
Not sure you would find it on "Dancing with the Stars" but it was fun to watch. They nailed the ending! Hope you are dancing today.
Date: 11/9/2014 6:49:00 AM
Loved the dance more...."the smile that conveys understanding" what they have done well. Excellent piece. Loved always, my friend,bl
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David Meade
Date: 11/11/2014 8:16:00 AM
Thank-you BL, hope you are enjoying a dance today!
Date: 11/8/2014 2:49:00 PM
All your work, short and sweet. Enjoying it. -TJ
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David Meade
Date: 11/11/2014 8:12:00 AM
thank-you Trinity -- may you always dance with love and hope!
Date: 11/8/2014 3:20:00 AM
and what a loving dance it was, David! You've penned this haiku pretty well. Lol ...:) love and hugs! xxxx D.
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David Meade
Date: 11/11/2014 8:13:00 AM
Thank-you Ms. Potter -- I hope you are dancing the day away!! love and light
Date: 11/8/2014 3:12:00 AM
very good David Isnt this a tanka? lovely work
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David Meade
Date: 11/11/2014 8:14:00 AM
Yes, a tanka -- just seeing if you were awake. Thank-you for stopping by -- may all your days be filled with dancing and hope.
Date: 11/7/2014 10:30:00 PM
Wonderful!!
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David Meade
Date: 11/11/2014 8:16:00 AM
Your the best -- keep on dancing.
Date: 11/7/2014 5:55:00 PM
A very well-done Tanka David. I enjoyed the imagery here too. Best!! Gary
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David Meade
Date: 11/7/2014 8:13:00 PM
thank-you my friend -- keep on dancing . . .
Date: 11/7/2014 2:39:00 PM
very beautifully crafted david
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David Meade
Date: 11/7/2014 8:14:00 PM
From the man who know how to dance with the ladies and whisper love poetry in their ear! All the best.
Date: 11/7/2014 1:23:00 PM
how beautiful David , your talent outshines :) eve
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David Meade
Date: 11/7/2014 8:15:00 PM
thank-you, I see you have your dancing shoes on . . . hold on tight!
Date: 11/7/2014 11:48:00 AM
aww this is so touching David its a 7 from me:-) Hugs Jan xx
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Jan Allison
Date: 11/8/2014 3:29:00 AM
I love reading and being inspired by the work of others David - that is the way I am learning and growing - I am pretty new to poetry only having started posting in February:-) hugs jan xx
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David Meade
Date: 11/7/2014 8:18:00 PM
You are the sweetest . . . a girl who dances in the bright sun giving inspirations to others . . . sweet is your dance.

Book: Reflection on the Important Things