Rita wrote this poem for us a couple of years ago. We really enjoyed it then and we’d like everyone to share it with us again. Our dear friend, Rita died on May 21, 2004. We will miss her wonderful sense of humor and driving spirit. I’m sure she’ll keep an eye on all of us from above. 

We love you Rita. And you too Les!!

Round Dancing 

The steps that once we strove to learn
No longer plague our feet;
Wing, whisk, corte’, and telemark
We think we’ve got them beat.
But dance, like life, does not stand still
There’s always some new test
To keep us ever on our toes
Just when we’d like a rest.
We listen to the music
Think we’ve found the samba beat
We bota fogo, volta, roll
But forget our Latin feet.
In waltz we try to emulate
Some ballroom dancing style
To keep our heads turned to the left
To always wear a smile.
We syncopate the back lock
And invert the hover cross
We try to make a throwaway
A throw and not a toss.
We tackle different rhythms
With a desire to please
In spite of our arthritic joints
And failing memories.
Our ears hear cues;  Our minds react;
Know what we have to do,
The message sometimes reaches feet
A little overdue.
We stretch our legs and tax our brains
We swear our feet are sore
But when the music starts again
We all come back for more.

-Rita Metcalf, W. Vancouver, BC