I wrote this for my friend and then Zumba teacher, Pat, in honor of her birthday in 2009. The music, the dancing, and her enthusiastic spirit while teaching inspired me.
This poem was later published in the Tarrant County College Literary Journal.
Dancing with Pat
By: Donna Hunter – November 2009
I wanna be like Pat.
I wanna dance like that!
She’ll show me how.
Ok, watch her feet.
Ain’t they sweet?
Ok, yeah, my feet can do that!
If I can just get mine to keep doing
What hers do
Then maybe the rest of me will follow.
Oh I don’t know.
She’s so hot and purty.
Sigh . . . I feel so white and nerdy.
Can I do this?
Glance up and see that energetic smile,
Those bright eyes, looking right at me in the mirror.
She’s nodding her head at me like she thinks I’m doing well . . .
Maybe I can.
Smile, listen to the music, keep going.
Hey, look at my feet go!
They are going just like Pat’s!
Woo Hoo! I’m awesome.
I love this music! I’m doing it!
Wait a minute . . .
WHAT is her butt doing?
Does she have a motor in that thing?
Groan.
Overweight, out of shape, Would Be Ballerina
Heaves a sigh and tries to keep up with Little Fit Latina.
Can’t let all that footwork go to waste.
I’ll start slow on the wiggle and work my way up.
She go boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom!
I go . . .boom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . boom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . !
She go boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom!
I go . . boom . . . . . boom . . . . . boom . . . . . .boom . . . . .!
Yeah that works. I’m getting there. I’m dancing with Pat.
Feet – check.
Wiggle – check.
Arms?! – shit.
Ok, watch her hands, do what they do . . .
Dammit.
Lost the feet.
Start over.
Keep dancing.
Friends smile.
We’re all beautiful.
dahnajeen 