A school carnival:
swept in a wild, laughing throng
we push through gym doors.
Heads bent like flowers,
a giggling daisy chain,
girls walk with arms linked.
"Hey, it's your birthday!
I'll request a song for you!
Do you like Footloose?"
Like popcorn we bounce,
squealing as one breaks away,
rushing the DJ.
Twenty five years pass.
My daughter's hand rests in mine
like a rose petal.
Heads cocked birdlike hear
strains of "Footloose" and laughter
drift over schoolyard.
"What's that funny sound?"
I say, "An old song," but think,
"It's me. I'm fifteen."
It's amazing to me how music is like a time machine--it can take us back to an exact moment in this mystifying way.
A couple months ago, I was with some friends who are my age (but we didn't go to high school together), and we heard a Boys II Men song on the radio. I blurted out, "Wow, this song is so sophomore year Winter Formal." And everyone gasped and was like, "Yes! Totally!" I think it's even more magical when music can take us back to the exact same place as someone else, even when it seems that, at the time or even right now, they're worlds away.
Haven't heard that one in a while! I remember how much I loved it. Sounds like a fun carnival!
Hi, nice haiku! I loved Footloose. Hope you don't mind I added you to this week's Mr Linky for Haiku Friday; we'd love for you to come on over and join us next week!