Nicole Taylor

THEY WERE SINGING OYA

Standing or sitting
with support assistance or not.
Chatting or gesticulated,
gesturing animatedly.
They were singing Oya.

Positioned in two lines,
four to a line.
They were singing Oya.

The two lines formed a circle.
Hands and feet danced
and clapped in unison.
They were singing Oya.

A foreigner, stranger, and a native
dances in wiggling and writhing
his trunks and legs.
They were singing Oya.

Arms and bodies moved,
elongated, in flight and
greeted each other.
They were singing Oya.

Hands and bodies
slithered and met,
moving forward and circling
They were singing Oya.

Legs bent at the knees,
feet and arms danced forward,
posture so straight.
They were singing Oya.

Toes touched the floor.
Knees and ankles bent.
Ankles touched butt.
Calves touched thighs.
Palms clapped thighs.
They were singing Oya.

Trunks danced
back and forth.
They were singing Oya.

Wheels pushed forward.
Chief creatures danced
around each other and fanned wildly
Wrists and arms touched and shook.
They were singing Oya.

The stranger returns
Right foot in.
Left foot in.
Trunk in, down.
Others slid feet.
They were singing Oya.

Each partner switched sides,
finding a new home.
They were singing Oya.

As each partner
found a new home.
the group in line
turned in beat.
They were singing Oya.

The two lines formed a circle.
Hands and feet danced
and clapped in unison.
They were singing Oya.

One, two.
Right, left.
Up, down.
Hands raising, dropping.
Clapping and shuffling.
They were singing Oya.

Carrying on the celebration.
Turning on out the door.
They were singing Oya.

Grabbing the Goddess Oya's arm,
    change,
      the tornado. Everybody gy, gy, gyrate.
They were singing Oya.

* * *

JIGSAW PIECES

Jigsaw pieces
in a box.
Sausages (pigs)
in a blanket.
Chicken pieces
in a burger.
Three ladies
in a café
at lunch.
Puzzles, conundrums,
wrapped in conversation,
wrapped in a meal.

NicoleTaylor has attended college in Salem, Oregon where she lives near her siblings, mother and other family. She has been published in her college newspaper and a local anthology. Taylor has also won several contests in a local bookstore and her college newspaper. She attends local workshops, readings, and festivals.