“Dancing with the Stars” by Laurie Kuntz

Dancing with the Stars

An 11 year old dances
at a middle school graduation party
the way the body, set free,
w/o shame, not caring who looks
who claps, just a person  a budding figure
moving to music like a sparrow
moves to the wind carrying
its long winded chirp up to the stars.

laurie kuntz

Laurie Kuntz’s books are That Infinite Roar (Gyroscope Press), Talking Me Off The Roof (Kelsay Books), The Moon Over My Mother’s House (Finishing Line Press),  Simple Gestures, (Texas Review Press), Women at the Onsen (Blue Light Press), and Somewhere in the Telling, (Mellen Press). Simple Gestures won Texas Review’s Chapbook Contest and Women at the Onsen won the Blue Light Press Chapbook Contest. She’s been nominated for four Pushcart Prizes and two Best of the Net Prizes. In 2024, she won a Pushcart Prize. Her work has been published in Gyroscope Review, Roanoke Review, Third Wednesday, One Art, Sheila Na Gig and other journals. Happily retired, she lives in an endless summer state of mind. More at: https://lauriekuntz.myportfolio.com/home-1.

Headshot: Laura Angel

Photo Credit: Staff