They danced the waltz so well together now, they assumed that learning the mazurka would be pretty easy. But now that they were actually in the workshop, they remembered how long it had taken to get to that point.
He didn’t really have the steps down yet, so he was hesitant, and led lightly; she couldn’t really feel the motion, so she clutched harder and tried to steer. Then they lost the rhythm, again.
The instructors were circulating through the hesitant group, gently guiding and demonstrating. It was easy to dance with them. They knew exactly what they were doing. It didn’t matter if he didn’t feel the steps exactly right, they were strangers.
Finally, she just stopped listening to the music. Clearly it wasn’t translating well enough into the steps. Instead, she focused very carefully on the lift of his arm against her back, the push of his hand against hers. Their weight was off. They adjusted. Spun. Stepped.
Then they lost the rhythm again, but they lost it together this time.
Try Sonny’s mazurka…a most common one…but better, one I know only as Jonathan and Maureen’s.
Mazurka : waltz :: fly : jump ?? Comes a time when the body can no longer gain altitude nor soar but the soul still can. ….try to make it real…compared to what ??
Comment by Bill — January 17, 2009 @ 1:18 pm
I love this.
Comment by Heartfelt — January 18, 2009 @ 1:11 pm
The tune I had in mind is Timothy Leary’s Mazurka. Mark Bickford knows it.
Comment by B. — January 20, 2009 @ 10:26 pm
Many, many thanks for sharing this with us. It moved us both.
We look forward to dancing with you all again!
Best,
Maria & Werner
Comment by Fernborough — February 3, 2009 @ 9:20 pm
Quaack –nary a squeak from the burrow–moving on for open water. Maybe CUAgn when the mote has thawed. ?? Mazurka with webbed feet ?
Comment by B. — February 7, 2009 @ 4:37 pm
Remarkably well executed piece of writing!!!
Comment by vegan lifestyle — November 18, 2011 @ 1:48 am