With everyone home for the holidays, I’ve spent more time than usual in the kitchen. Even though I’m delighted to have my children home, I’m not always thrilled to be cooking, cleaning, cooking, cleaning…. The other night I discovered a wild musical mix on youtube and with the volume blaring, I set out to make dinner. I expected drudgery but the music, from big band to zydeco to gospel, transformed the chore into a sheer delight and inspired this poem–my own version of a dinner dance. 
Dinner Dance
My finger taps the button
And music starts to play
I crank the volume higher
And quickly start to sway
Upbeat and lively only
no dulcet tones today
The cupboard doors start rattlin’
Dinner is underway
I can-can to the cabinet
retrieve some garlic there
Then shut it with a hip bump
Fists pumping in the air
R-E- S- P- E- C- T
Aretha belts it out
While dicing up the tofu
I sing and swing about
I jitterbug with ginger
’til grating is complete
Then mince the yellow onions
gyrating to the beat
I salsa while food simmers
I cha cha while I chop
While waiting for a boil
I do the bunnyhop.
I jazz-hand in the spices
Then add a wee bit more
Choreographing wildly
I hip hop ‘cross the floor
I bump my hips in tempo
While stirring my sauté
Bellowing out a chorus
I improvise ballet
I twirl around the island
Dancing with my spoon
Happily cooking dinner
This December afternoon
Mary Lee Hahn at A Year of Reading is hosting today’s Poetry Friday Roundup. Make sure to stop by to enjoy some poetry to bring in the New Year. May your year be filled with unexpected moments of joy and sparkle, like an impromptu dance around the kitchen!
Nix the comfort zone 
How fun! Happy New Year!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! Please share the YouTube link that inspired this! Happy New Year and keep dancing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What fun! I can picture you “jazz-hand(ing) the spices!”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the New Year’s Day smile–and vicarious dinner-dance exercise! (Come to think of it, you’ve just redefined dinner-dance!) Your poem needs to be published as its own YouTube video. I love it!!!!
Although every line is my favorite, I especially love “Then shut it with a hip bump Fists pumping in the air” Thank you for including dances, old and new; especially old–like the bunnyhop. (Someone reminded me recently that as a teen I loved doing the Pony. Remember that one???) …Really, your poem needs to be disseminated; we need song, dance, and lots of smiles this new year! God bless you. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much! I’m delighted you enjoyed the poem. I had great fun writing it. Wishing you lots of song, dance and smiles in 2016.
LikeLike
3 of my favorite things:) Thank you!
LikeLike
Adorable! Music and cooking make such a great partnership. My mother always had music on (and sang) while she cooked and I’ve picked up the habit to. Enjoyed your fun poem!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great habit to pick up, Laura! I always seem to pick up the bad ones! 🙂 So glad you enjoyed the poem. Happy New Year!
LikeLike