|
|
A Modern Ballet
I. overture
swinging glances
circling 'round each other
eighth-note touches and fluttering tongues
they tussle with rhythm and melody
playing their words, their bodies
up and down the scale
improvisation all the way
caring not for style
but for the sound, the harmony, the flow of it all
playfully vamping back and forth
echoing, echoing one another
II. Exchange
He steps
Off the melody
Off the beat
A dissonant break
An accidental
She halts
Pauses
Repeats
His performance
But in fortepiano
Suddenly loud then soft
Continuing in
A livid pianissimo
So quiet, but accelerating
Climaxing
a - Staccato - condemnation
Accompanied
By glowering eyes
And crossed arms
trying to restore harmony
to return to the rhythm
he offers a loving, smooth serenade
She refuses
To play along
But concentrates on
Cacophonic, harsh
Sharp syncopation
Ignoring his harmonics
She turns her back
Bending her notes
Till they break
III. Finale
he takes precise largo steps
a careful, quiet stride
wrapping his lingering arms around her
She shrugs
he touches her hair with grace-note strokes
quick, smooth, fluid caresses
she melts, shifting from minor to major
looking into his whole-note eyes, she smiles
a classical coda
|
|
|