Swan Lake Side

A Poem by Michelle Gent

Cross between Swan Lake and West Side Story

Swan Lake Side-

While strolling through the park I inadvertently stumbled
Upon a recital already in progress
Wisteria draperies and weeping willows withdraw
Falling out of view with the sounding of the overture

Water lilies meandering maze parts like the Red Sea
Swans appear in all their majesty
Prima ballerina's immersed in routine
Regal and refined heads and necks held high

Glide pirouetting from lake side to lake side
The epitome of poise and precision
A synchronized ballet unfolds

Scene 1 ends

Sarcastic squawking applause launches
As ill mannered courtesans land awkwardly
amidst once peaceful peformers
Orchestrating an impromptu intervention
Disruptive ducks proceed to unravel a synchronized ballet
And ruffle the feathers of the pompous elite

Jesters pester contemporaries intent on cohabitation
By starting to outline their piece of the pie
Strong arming negotiations on closing demands
Feeling unduly sequestered swans hiss
Then flee to deliberate

Scene 2

Meanwhile prat-falling pranksters hold their heads under water
While bottoms are in the air
Mindlessly drifting, nonchalantly paddling
Fools use one another as canoes, unaware of rivals departure

Unexpected swans dive, plummeting and stunning
With such brutal force, sending competitors into a tail spin
Hastily they retreat

The smug elite gloat victoriously
A swan song so sweet "Duck Flambeau" served
With a side of humble pie

Draperies drop

Then rise again

Dancers line up front and center stage
Graciously they curtsy
As courtesy flowers rest at their feet
Then with one fail swoop they sashay quickly out of view
Leaving my to resume my leisurely day in the park