Howard F. Stein’s most recent poem to appear here was “Hands” (September 2017)
Invitation to the Dance
By Howard F. Stein
after Carl Maria von Weber
Dry leaves, partner
with wind,
swirl, twirl, skip, scrape
in their dance
to an orchestra
conducted by wind—
dance in the open,
dance in corners
where curbs and walls meet.
Leaves’ invisible partner
leads in gusts, in eddies,
in gentle breezes
across the ballroom floor,
till wind tires
and leaves settle down—
awaiting a new partner
to sweep them off their feet.
Nice.