Maypole Dance
over under
over under
my mismatched
ribbon under your
mismatched ribbon
around and around
feet on soft sand
drums and waves
fill the air
over under
over under
faster and faster
feet flying
arms rising and falling
my arm is up so
you can duck under
reach and duck
reach and duck
around and around
smiling laughing
smiling laughing
twenty people
simplified into
an undulating circle
with two alternating
opposite rhythms
of over and under
everyone smiling
concentrating
every thought either
over or under
no room
for confusion
the circle dances on
carrying us all away
in a singular
celebratory task
feet on sand
laughter and waves
beautiful spring air
our ribbons start out long
our circle is bigger and
slower and slowly
we go faster and faster
our ribbons get
shorter and shorter
we are the over under
we are the circle
the spinning earth
the blossoming spring
our individual
mismatched ribbons
disappearing into the whole
and not until my ribbon
has disappeared
do I have the chance
or the mind
to look up and
behold the perfectly
woven maypole
rising from the
center of our circle
tall glorious
all our efforts joined
together in magnificence
Anna Graybill 