I told my new friends at the table, “I don’t dance”

The man running the reception said we’d soon have a chance

I was quite shocked when the loud music started

Five women opposite me in blue dresses darted

Out onto that polished dance floor

They started swaying

They shifted their feet

Their hands were waving

Their shoulders and hips were loose

I thought it was neat

Several others from surrounding tables followed suit

Everybody was moving about in their own way

It looked ridiculous but cute

My husband looked at me and said, “What do you say?”

I shook my head but not to the beat

He stood and grabbed my hand

Pulled me out of my seat

I protested, “I don’t know what I’m doing!”

He told me, “Neither does anyone else; now get moving!”

Strangely, as we moved, the better and better I felt

I moved my left foot over then let my left hip follow

Then my right foot out with my right hip to follow

Facing me, I watched my husband’s hips and shoulders dip below

A circle of distant friends formed

An eclectic wedding guest list

A sea of colored outfits and skin tones and accents

All huddled together in rhythm

Each one in the dance and music – reborn

Hands help up

At the same time as others jumped

Calves pumped

Hands held

Knees bent

Feet and spirits light as flint

Each physical expression unique

Strangers cheering for some reason more than a wedding

No wrong way to move – it wasn’t a chess game

Letting go of competition, we shouted the bride and groom’s names

In the middle of the boot-scute-cha-cha-love-got-me-acting-so-crazy-right-now

Someone handed out glowing jewelry

There was no need to fool me

We slapped neon yellow bracelets on each other’s wrists

We were all swirling about, bumping hips and fists

We were a jumping, swaying, glowing sea

Goofy, unknowing, non-judgmental ecstasy

Just moving how you move

Each person with a few seconds in the middle

Everyone clapping

No one there to judge or belittle

None of us knew what we were doing

For just a few minutes on that floor, it wasn’t about winning or losing

Not a thing to prove

Just there to move

I couldn’t help but wonder who made us dance

This was more than a wedding

Who makes us alive?

Just getting on that dance floor was a form of shedding

I’m so thankful last night I took the chance