Like Frightened Birds 1976 Poem by Terry Collett

Netanya danced
like a wild thing
dark hair flowing
as she moved
hands swinging to the beat
legs moving so fast
it made one dizzy watching

I stood at the bar
drinking scotch
watching the dancing
and others boozing
at side tables

she's a goer your Mrs
some guest said to me
holding a glass of beer

yes she knows
how to move
I said

she like that in bed to?
he said eyeing Netanya
on the dance floor

no she don't dance in bed
I said
she sleeps or we make love

I sipped the scotch
he wandered off
staggering on the side
of the hall
gazing at the dancers

who's he?
the guy behind the bar
a friend of Netanya's asked me

some feck who lives
down the road from us
had too much booze
I said

I won't serve him
anymore booze
the guy said
he's had his limit

a while later
there was a bit of noise
and pushing
over the far end of the hall
the guy who had
too much booze
was causing hassle
with another guy

what's the trouble?
I said

this guy is trying to dance
with this girl
and she doesn't want
to dance with him
Netanya's son said

time for you to leave pal
I said

the guy looked at me
what's it to you?
he said

it's my wife party
she doesn't want trouble
so go

he stood there swaying
and eyeing me

voluntary or otherwise
I said

he took a wild swing
at me but it missed
by a mile and I caught
his hand and twisted it
behind him and lead him
from the hall

and out
he went into
the dark night
swaying away
cursing out words
that fled into the night
like frightened birds.