Unforgettable Dancer (For Molefi Bobo Bofelo)
i was going to go
on a long-winded lecture
on the historicity & cultural specificity
of dance as a languageform
involved with the organization
of rhythm and aesthetics
i was going to go
all pedantic and scholastic
mention a jay pather here
quote a ivaldo bertazza there
and now and again
without acknowledgement
paraphrase a danilo santos de Miranda
& go to town on utilizing
biochemics and the knowledge
of locomotion systems and physiotherapy
to gain a comprehensive grasp of anatomy .
i was going to go all bookish
and wax philosophical
not necessarily original
on bodylanguage as
a social & cultural construct
i was going to pretend
i am a choreographer amongst all
& tell you how the physical dimension
heightens a peoples ability
to relate to the worlds
but how could i sermonize to you
about the potential of dance
to create a collective harmony
as well as bodily express
the collective voice of a people seeking
for a sense of place in a given space
when with my ears i heard
the audience release
a volcano of claps
by way of ovation
saying the nation sees
its movement out
of the narrow valley of despair
into the vast oasis of hope
in the crazy motion of your tiny feet
soldiering your burdened body
beyond yesterdays ugly scars
above the fresh wounds
of a hobbling today
into the brave world
of the rolling up of sleeves
muddling in the mud
sticking noses in debris
soiling hands with bits & pieces
of derelict and dumped bricks
to build out of the boldness of dreams
a future pregnant with hopes
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