Up and down the city streets
©RedCat
The place is quivering with heat
Rising from the dusty concrete
Undulating to the juke’s syncopated beat
Everybody Chicago footworking their feet
A dance where struggle liberation meets
Echoing the racing heartbeats
As the vocals reverse and repeat
Written for tonight’s Quadrille prompt over at dVerse. The sweet little poem consists of just 44 words. Since our host urged us to:
“Let’s get the hips a swaying to the rhythm //of words. Let your voices rise & SinG!”
Quadrille 131 – with Brian Miller
I chose another meaning of the prompt word juke. That of the music genre Chicago Juke that is intimately connected with the dance form footwork.
You can listen to the music and watch the dance in the links I’ve added.
Happy tenth anniversary!
Read other Quadrilles by me here.
The world according to RedCat 
Had not heard about that music style before… might have a playlist for tomorrow then.
Ha. Fun rhyme and rhythm in this. Each city sings and dances to a bit of a different tune.
Dancing is one way to beat this heat. Undulating is one of those cool words that sound like what it is saying, to me at least. I am a Hawks & Bulls fan, so Chitown has a place in my heart. Even have the Chicago Lego set in my office.
Great use of the prompt. Your poem works very well. Good to see them dancing rather than shooting at each other! Nicely done.
Now all Chicago needs to do is keep Lake Michigan away ….. This is a great interpretation of the “word” .. I love it.
I like to think of struggle and liberation meeting. Should be a good time!
There’s a great rhyhthm to this – I like how you make the city dance
I enjoyed the video – and the poem. Especially the “dance where struggle liberation meets.”
Thanks for introducing me to footworking…wow!
A nice nod to Chicago!
NIcely done quadrille.
That is some fancy footwork. Love the city beat! Thanks for joining in.
There is something indescribably liberating about dancing in your own style. I see Chicagoans have used it to connect to the heritage of their ancestors. As a dancer, I’m sure you know what good exercise it is also, Helene!
I didn’t know anything about this dance style until just now, Helene! A wonderful, rhythmically-charged quadrille. Made me want to get up and move my feet!
I like the rhyming—especially heat/concrete.
enjoyed this my heart still dances shame my body cannot keep up
There’s a great flow to your poem that echoes the fancy footwork. I hand’t heard of Chicago Juke/footwork before.
Wow. Great poem and what a wakeup call. Totally enjoyable.
Interesting! I was not aware of this genre. Thanks for this unique take on the prompt. :)
This is absolutely lovely!! 💝💝
The energy in that clip – footwork at 160 beats per minute! And great rhythm in your quadrille echoing the music.
I have a real soft spot for rhyme, Helene, and you executed this flawlessly!
<3
David