From What Wondrous Wood
From what wondrous wood is a stage floor made?
Century trees spire stately cathedral, grain right
Through a woodsman's eye whose heart's a blade.
Ennobled are those trees chosen by his keen sight.
The cushioned hum of a forest is pierced by the bark
Of a chain saw revved high for top speed to excite
Oil for the ease of passage. Razor teeth bite the mark
Incision sure, another majestic tower falls just right.
Rudely dragged over holy ground, just like Nimrod's prey,
Both to be sliced and severed, even so, heartwood lives.
Kiln fires fully stoked for sweating out crowns lumber's day.
Wood seasoned endures like feelings, as words of a poem, gives.
Virgin wood, oyster pearl smooth, jeweler eye hewn,
Delicate ballet symphonic, awaits its artful crafters.
No longer bird nor breeze melodize a forest tree's tune,
Staccato ropey, hammer and saw, resonate in the rafters.
Audience hushed, curtain up, coronation begun :
Music will be manna, the sustenance of choice,
As a rainbow of bright spotlights supplant father sun,
A dancer's tapping engenders lumber its own true voice.
Ronald C. Downie
For Bonnie upon her birthday acknowledging her lifelong love of the dance.
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