Riff On Rita Dove's Borderline Mambo Poem by David McLansky

He spins and flays
His arms arrayed
So regal in his grace;
He floats on air
So debonair
Such joy upon his face;
The Mambo King
Spins 'round the ring
His hands an invitation;
inviting all
He's so enthralled
His limbs in levitation;

Can age, disease
Lock up his knees,
And make his mind forget
The graceful ease
With which he teased
Will his feet forget to step?
Will his legs lose rhythm
Will he be less driven,
Will his movements lose their snap?
Will you hear him wheeze
Will his shoulders freeze
Will his toes forget to tap

But for now
He moves so proud
He dips, he pirouettes;
The Mambo King
Floats around the ring
His hands like castanets;
He sways, tugged back
Gravity grows slack
He's propelled by strings of rhythm
He forward stalls,
Yes, to dance is all'
Yes, dance while you still have
Breath.