April 2017
Lisa Wiley
wileymoz@yahoo.com
wileymoz@yahoo.com
I studied with Billy Collins July 2013 in the Southampton Writers Conference on Long Island. I live with my husband, three children and two orange cats in Buffalo, NY where I teach creative writing and composition at Erie Community College. When I'm not running, I'm writing. My two chapbooks include My Daughter Wears Her Evil Eye to School (The Writer's Den, 2015) and Chamber Music (Finishing Line Press, 2013).
Little Song
Observation day at dance class
Your little song is in my heart today.
Shuffle ball change, shuffle ball change, toe heel,
ball change. You, shiny black tap shoes can peel
away the Rockette glamour of the way
girls are supposed to line up, obey, pay
homage to glossy air-brushed frames who wheel
about the stage. Uniform lines that kneel
before the perfect kick, cramp roll to play.
Tap class should be no uniforms allowed:
Violet in fuchsia; Madeline in
black velour; Emma in tiger print. So
they smile Jack-o-lantern grins in the cloud
of the mirror. Fla-p. Fla-p. Begin
to shuffle all over again, they know
Little Song
Observation day at dance class
Your little song is in my heart today.
Shuffle ball change, shuffle ball change, toe heel,
ball change. You, shiny black tap shoes can peel
away the Rockette glamour of the way
girls are supposed to line up, obey, pay
homage to glossy air-brushed frames who wheel
about the stage. Uniform lines that kneel
before the perfect kick, cramp roll to play.
Tap class should be no uniforms allowed:
Violet in fuchsia; Madeline in
black velour; Emma in tiger print. So
they smile Jack-o-lantern grins in the cloud
of the mirror. Fla-p. Fla-p. Begin
to shuffle all over again, they know
© 2017 Lisa Wiley
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