Ode to a Minuet

Ode to a Minuet

After the honors to audience, then partner,
a stately, disciplined dance.
Dancers are facing each other
a movement, or sink and rise
with superb body control
concealed beneath apparent effortlessness.
Slow, soft, ceremonious, and graceful.
Dance forward, backward, sideways, then forward to middle
curving sideways to meet at back of space.
Honor the giving of right hands.

Honor audience, then partner.
Short steps, pas menus, taken in the dance,
we are facing each other.
A look, or wink and glint in his eyes
with superb noble style
concealed beneath a binding corset of breasts.
Honor the giving of left hands.
A coy but warming smile
from corner, dance sideways to other corner, then forward to mesh.
The giving of left hands.

Dance sideways to other corner, still with honor,
then cross diagonally through middle of space.
Change corners, then sideways to each other’s previous corner,
keeping hands, dance sideways to back of space.
Superb gallant soul
concealed beneath the gallant flesh.
Honor the giving of both hands.
From corner, dance sideways to other corner, then diagonal.
Glance at him and never confess,
holding inside hands.