The Immigrant’s TangoSitting amongst refrains of nostalgia rooted in past shadows A walled flower waiting Eyes meet, in trespass or invitation? Her vined legs unwind from the seat of familiar Uprooted Facing, With one arm they embrace, their other stop-sign hands clasp marking a joined border of resistance Transplanted onto this dance floor soiled with memories, they negotiate the boundary of their new, shared space With each haunting call of the bandoneon, compelling their circling steps into now The insinuating rhythm unites them with one pulse and yet the eternal push, pull hiding, enfolding Clinging to the music’s strains drawing them together, apart this tensile arrival, separation never quite pausing in past or future Just a timeless heartbeat of sinewed silence before the music propels them on Moving as one, the dancers seek freedom through their locked embrace, escape without departure Echoing the bandoneon’s pull, push Leaving, returning Mourning, uniting Into a finale flourish. Then the tango begins anew. (dimly remembered past seasons litter their feet) yet they dance on singing for freedom calling for home © Vanessa Winn First published in Quill’s Canadian Poetry Magazine |