BELLY DANCING – TEL AVIV MARCH 2002

1

Hakim is singing and I am swinging my cane.

The coins around my hips jingle just

in the right places and deepen the beat.

And I ignore for the moment the way

the chains on the Merchava tanks

going into Kalkilya

jingle just like me.

2

Finally I’ve got that contraction right;

it’s a split second thing you barely notice

but takes forever for a klutz like me to learn,

especially when I see from the studio window

some guy skim down the stairs

and I’m not sure whether he’s holding

dance gear or an M-16.

How easy the other becomes the foe

The closer he is, the more dangerous.

3.

Pay attention, I tell myself

as my cane slips from the crown of my head,

clatters to the floor,

and the whole class

stops the dance

to look at me.

Control what you need for balance:

make the rest free.