Dansa Poem #PoetryPals Challenge

Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: 

it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquillity. 

-William Wordsworth

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Tranquil Thoughts

It starts with a gentle flow,

Like leaves dancing in the breeze.

Pleasant, slow movements that please

Awaken emotions. You know,

It starts with a gentle flow.

Body and mind are at ease.

Breath relaxed. Slow down, please.

Feel the rush of letting go.

It starts with a gentle flow.

Yogi listen, bend  your knees,

Down dog pose leads to heartsease.

Breathe in, breathe out, joy will grow.

It starts with a gentle flow.

©CVarsalona, Fall 2022, Virginia

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Yesterday, while in the yoga studio, I listened intently to my teacher. She led us through a series of gentle flows. This practice allowed me to relax while pushing myself beyond my comfort zone and reminded me of autumn's gentle flow. Yoga and nature's movements set the stage to write alongside the Poetry Sisters who challenged us this month to compose a dansa poem. Since I have never heard of a dansa poem, I really needed to pay attention to the format and start the process by using a simple refrain. The poem opens with a quintrain of 5 lines and an AbbaA rhyme scheme. Quatrains of 4 lines with a bbaA rhyme scheme follow. The  A repeats because it is the opening line of the first stanza and the final line of every stanza, including the first. 

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Do you know what belsnickeling is? It is a Christmas practice, inspired by early 20th-century German Americans, in which costumed groups would visit neighbors' houses, offer a short performance, and then, were rewarded with food if the neighbors couldn't guess their identities. My granddaughters and I enjoyed a variation of belsnickeling last weekend when we walked around the neighborhood with baskets of homemade cookies. My oldest granddaughter wore dentures to make the neighbors laugh. 

Belsnickeling Fun

Little creatures march around
With toothy grins and small treats,
Delivering gooey sweets.
For all the neighbors earthbound,
Little creatures march around.

Stomp, stomp they walk up and down.
See that pumpkin who overeats.
Down the dark and lonely streets,
Little creatures walk around.

They skip, sway, and eat a piece.
Head home when cookies decrease-
Belsnickeling fun found.
Little creatures walk around.
©CVarsalona, 2022, dansa poem, digital art & Pumpkin photo by Margaret Simon for This Photo Needs To Be A Poem

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It is time for the Poetry Friday Roundup.
Join me at Jone MacCullock's blog here to find out what our Oregon poet/photgrapher/librarian has as a sweet surprise. It will sure to be filled with poetic goodness and maybe a nature photo or collage.