Doin' The Hustle Poem by Jim Boone

</> I saw a new dance I was eager to learn
As I stood on the side - watched and yearned
While the dancers listened, got it, moved and
turned, together

Finally, I could stand it no more
Took a deep breath and moved onto the floor.
I stepped and stumbled, kicked a few shins
But I listened, got the beat and moved again
Then I had it (!) , I was in the line
Moving with the others, right in time.

Another was watching, unwilling to move
Until each step was studied and analyzed
precise and smooth.

In the meantime, we were out there twisting
and kicking our feet
Moving and turning to that happy Hustle beat.

A few hours before sunrise, the watcher made
up his mind
All the steps were memorized, so he fell back
in line

The music started, we got the beat
He was doing fine, until he looked at his feet
Suddenly he was off and couldn’t follow through
Back on the sidelines he watched and yearned
It would be awhile before he would return.

In the meantime, we were out there twisting
And kicking our feet, moving and turning
To that happy Hustle beat.

A thought came to mind as I grew wet from
The heat: The rhythm of life is a very strong
Beat; the tempo may change, you may miss
A step, but listen to the beat, it will always help. 1972