Blue Mountain Arts Poetry Contest

Sally's Dance
by Colette Leisen

Twelfth Contest
third Place

her fingers dance to the rhythm of the speaker
six needles flying
the long line of silky powder blue wool
converge into a delicate cone shape

inspired
i wander around the wool shop
the sound of the spinner in the back room
wooden floors creaking beneath my feet
a myriad of ochre, red, violet and blue,
the palette of whites and creams and chestnut make me hungry

thick felted wool in fuchsia and chartreuse
the impossible softness of cashmere
orange scratchy mohair
that remind me of sweaters i wore
in grade six

the old man shows me a felted kimono
purple with red poppies
and i wonder how this love affair
with texture and color began

i choose three big skeins
in creams and taupes
thin and streamlined and thick and soft
all in the same line

that night
in the fall
the leaves are red gold orange brown
and the park looks like it's on fire
i am curled up on my sofa
casting on
and casting off
and trying to make my fingers
dance
like the couple i see next door
through the lace curtains
waltzing 
in their kitchen.