Marc Comtois

See the girls With bouncy curls See the boys Serious, poised Pointed toes Arms pinned close Ghillies tied tight (We hope!) Fiddle plays the tune Music fills the room Dancers spring Clasp hands in a ring Twirling, whirling Weave through a maze Heads unfazed Leap apart Hit the mark Stillness Take a bow Then take two Go offstage Change those shoes (Quickly!) Now move the feet To the bodrhan's beat Legs fly up Feet come down Hard shoes smack Clackity-clack Stomp! Stillness Whether Hornpipe, Or reel Or a jig That is up Smiles erupt Because of the joy That is damhsa

A leaf long fallen Flew again Lifted by a familiar breeze. It floated up, then down Twirled 'round and with a bound Danced with seeming glee. Yet its airy parade Was but a charade. As the animating wind Faded again, The leaf rocked down Floated to ground Lifeless and brown as before.

Oh! little mover of teenagers long ago. You suffered indignity sliding to and fro' along wintry paths hitting telephone poles and snowbanks. And rolling rolling rolling. You took your charges safely from home and back again. Running on gas or fumes. And hope. Yet rarely did you fail of your own volition. Always faithful. Always true whether parked or idling or on the move. 'Til you could move no more. *Originally written 1/30/2009  

The end of the year calls to mind All the days left behind People newly met and those we've lost Mistakes that were made and what they cost Happily the year-end also inspires A rekindling of coals that fire desires For wishes born out, more laughter and love More kindness and hope and blessings from above Every year-end is another's begin A time to start ...