‘between a dancer & a poet’ by ntozake shange
Pearl Primus dancing “Hard Time Blues”
(c) 1943
she swayed from the barre taut in control
her legs hurt mercilessly she even laughed
while he took notes
’i wanna love you like i dance
when i hurt i’m gettin’ better’
the poet signed his name to lines eclipsin reality
he cdnt catch his breath the language waz
overpowerin
‘i can love what i understand
when i dont understand i worship’
he put his pencil in his pocket & sat
in the middle of a whimsical circle
the dancer pliéed she contracted she sweat
& grew confident in her struggle
to surpass form transcend calves ankles hips merely
accoutrements like a music stand
dance is of the spirit the body her sacrifice
to dance
& she pranced before the poet
leaped
chaséed before the poet she struck
the air waz an impudent love & the dancer
was righteous chosen to conquer space
she panted she sweat & her leotard smelled of heat
& woman & she laughed
while the poet fondled his own cheek
she slid round him her body swirled like a cobra-wind
& she located the poet’s soul in space
he lost his spirit in the rush
of her darin & she screamed
‘i wanna love you like i dance
wild & delicate reachin for what i do not know
i wanna love you all round yr body
in-out-of-it no grounds no floor
i wanna love you where i can dance’
& she caressed the air like an ocean fern
blazin in the pits of ancient sunflowers
carryin the poet’s soul in the blush of her cheeks
his heart lingerin in her sweat
ntozake shange
”nappy edges”
pp. 108-109
