GoArtPoetry - "Every Word Was Once A Poem"
In My Write Mind
Hi everyone. Thank you for coming to my website. It will consist of various poems, lyrics in search of music, rhymes, and musings. I have been writing for enjoyment since I was in grade school when I had an ongoing cartoon called, "The Further Adventures Of Cliche Man". The idea was to write all of the dialogue using nothing but bad puns. On occasion I am accused of continuing the tradition. Please come again as I will post something new onto these pages. --- Art Gomez
PAGE ONE --- More on pages two and three (see links above)
Land of a Thousand Dances
(Or the Hokey Pokey as a philosophic attitude)
Life can sure take some funny turns. I know I'm not saying anything new but stating the obvious is ok at times. This is one of those times. Dealing with these turns, if I'm to get something out of them, takes some doing. Having an outlook on life to fall back on, an attitude or viewpoint that's positively skewed, seems to be necessary. Otherwise I would likely go bonkers.
I've thought about what it is that keeps me from pulling out what little hair I have left and running screaming through the night. I've decided it's my personal philosophy based on a dance I was taught while in grade school. When scrutinized it's obvious this dance covers about anything that can happen in life. Not only that but it was a dance we usually performed while on roller skates. This added a sense of danger and unpredictability but it also made it more fun. That's not a bad beginning for a life philosophy.
There are many other dances and some of them might offer a thing or two about life's travails but for my money none of them hold a toe tap to the Hokey Pokey. Heck we can Boogaloo down Broadway or Shimmy Koko Bop. We can be Square and take a partner by the hand or we could Bop ‘til we drop. We can do the Mash Potato or get on our feet and Twist. We can frighten ourselves with the Monster Mash or Swim or Samba or Dip. We can Stroll or Swing or Tap Dance. We can perform Ballroom, Ballet, or do the Watusi. We could Break Dance and even Shake or Lindy Hop.
Tango anyone?
All of these and more are at one's fingertips (or is that toe tips?) but it's the old HP that saves the day.
How does it go again?
You put your right hand in
You take your right hand out
You put your right hand in and you shake it all about
Do the Hokey Pokey and you turn yourself around
That's what it's all about
This is followed up with your left hand darting in then out then in again to shake about. Kind of a yin yang right brain left brain approach.
You're probably thinking, "Hmm, is that it"? Oh no, that's just the beginning. What has happened is the launching of an exploration. A tentative step towards something...anything.
Next comes a little more daring with added commitment.
You put your right arm in
You take your right arm out
You put your right arm in and you shake it all about
Do the Hokey Pokey and you turn yourself around
That's what it's all about
See how it goes? Little by little you put yourself into the fray. Granted, there is the momentary withdrawal after the cautious entrance, but then you're back again with more confidence to shake it up and turn things around.
Your legs go in/out and your head goes in/out. You're shaking and turning and Hokey Pokeying about. Eventually you gain so much confidence that you are willing to commit fully and without reservation.
You put your whole body in
You take your whole body out
You put your whole body in and you shake it all about
Do the Hokey Pokey and you turn yourself around
That's what it's all about
As life goes on living, this dance of timid exploration leading to bold self assurance holds a lot of promise. It can help you find your way within and then out of maddening and saddening situations. It can help you find your way as you move on from whatever ails you. It can help you as you explore what's new. It can just plain help you. Be sure to bring your skates and remember, "That's what it's all about"!
-Art Gomez