Grapevine

Grapevine

It’s lucky that you’ve caught me for I’ve just arrived you see.
Not long got back from dancing, now I need a cup of tea.
Today was my first lesson; nothing posh, no pas de-deux.
Though I’m really rather nimble and my waltz can cause a stir

But we didn’t need a partner, or so I understood
at just two pounds a session, well, it sounded rather good.
They all appeared quite casual not dressed up to the nines.
The room a haze of denim blue, I watched them dance in lines.

“Ok” I thought, “I’ll join them” and I tagged on to a row –
“pretend that I’m an expert and I’ll follow where they go”
My thumbs tucked into trousers, I tried to seem real cool
The teacher shouted “grapevine”. That’s when I looked a fool.

“Left, rock forward, shuffle, turn” – I turned but found them gone.
For they’d all danced off one way, and me – I’d carried on.
I pulled myself together, “no one’s looking –  no one cares”
I hoped they hadn’t noticed I was in amongst the chairs.

I quickly re-assembled, shuffled in and joined the throng
I started off ok again, but soon was going wrong.
The lady that I’d followed made a turn and changed her place.
One moment I was doing well, then we were face to face.

Another flipping “grapevine’” now, they do it in reverse.
I thought I was improving, but instead I’m getting worse.
As I make a swift departure I hear ”grapevine” one more time,
and their sequined denim shimmers as they heel toe in a line.