She Couldn't Dance

He who cannot dance puts the blame on the floor ~ Hindu Proverb

In the kingdom of many boos 
there once lived a danseuse 
who just couldn’t dance

With her two twisted feet 
So she hid her hooves

Hemming and hawing 
at the drummer’s beat
Scared, that the public 
would make her vamoose
she made up one after 
another lame excuse
One day she’d say 
the darn music was wrong
Another day she’d say 
the wind was too damn strong
Some days she’d curse   
the swinging stage door
Yet most often she blamed 
the gleaming dance floor 
This lady always had a ruse
Oh what an absolute goose 
this oblique, obtuse danseuse

Author's Note

"A Bad Workman Always Blames His Tools"

Reviews

[JMichael]

It's a clever proverb you lead into the poem with, as is the more common English proverb in your Author's note. It's a sad fact of life that there are many dancers who blame the floor for their own inadequacies. If they seriously bothered to learn and address their mistakes, instead of hiding behind them and blaming all and sundry, then perhaps they would become much better dancers instead of dragging along with two left feet. It's a smart poem, Pestonjee, and one which can be related to many facets of life in general. Exit stage left, perhaps? Original writing and well conveyed.

[AJNJ]

Thank you Mr. Picasso.

[JMichael]

You are wonderfully welcome, Pestonjee!

[AJNJ]

You too dear sir :)

[.]

Methinks I know this absolute fusty, fibbing goose, dear P! Lol. Love those proverbs you mention here. They speak with a unified truth and are so appropriate to the fusty dancer of your poem. Whatever the art, there is always those that prefer to blame something or other for their own inherent failures. Be it the dancefloor of your poem, the wrong mixture of paints on a palette, or, dare i say it....words on the page! Failure is always followed by excuses for those who believe their talent is higher than its true stature. Its an unfortunate reality. When the talent falls short the mischievous will do anything to save face and place the blame elsewhere. Its quite sad when it happens. I guess it is wise to know ones own limitations and at least try to improve on them rather than blame those 'workmans tools'. I adore the word 'danseuse', P! I havent seen that written in a long time! As always, your flow and rhyme is lovingly aligned, making the poem a literary digestible delight! Kudos for making a relevant comment on some relative irrelevancies in the Art medium! Much enjoyed! :))

[AJNJ]

Good evening Madame!

And thanks a bunch for this absolutely gorgeous review. Indeed, it’s to be understood and appreciated with words such as yours that a person scribbles.

Coming to the subject on hand, I’m nodding away in wholehearted agreement. Art doesn’t need faculties. It comes from within. Beethoven’s hearing was affected in his later years but that didn’t stop him from composing the perfect symphonies. There are umpteen great examples. And you can fool some people some of the time but you can’t fool all the people all the time! Those who think they can are just deluding themselves and they don’t know how the world ridicules them.

Thanks for appreciating the rhyme, meter and word choice in this one. This piece came easy as I was quite inspired after reading something.

Thanks and thanks always for appreciating and supporting my work here 🌷😊👍🏼

[Wild Rose]

I have two left feet or the tune is too fast for them

So I abandoned ballroom dancing and took up country / Scottish dancing Then line dancing came my way
But it much better in a field wearing walking boots

[AJNJ]

I can't dance for peanuts myself :)
I do enjoy some informal dancing weekends though.
Thanks very much for looking in on this poem Wild Rose.

[Wild Rose]

I can dance with my wife - she knows the same dance movements

[Chris Shaw]

I love a good proverb Pestonjee and this is one of them. Yes there are some people who can not accept their own inadequacies so have to put the blame elsewhere. You have conveyed this tale with great flair and I thoroughly enjoyed the read. Now I just love to dance and do so while I do my housework. Have a great day.

Chris

[AJNJ]

Dancing while working is a great way of keeping fit and entertained. This poem stemmed from something I read in te local newspaper. I'm so delighted by your great review on it. Have a beautiful day, Ms. Chris!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you and keep up the great poetry :)

[AJNJ]

Will do my friend and you too :)