by L D Redmond

Created on: December 30, 2009

The Shawl dance (Native American)

Come little butterfly,

Do not wait

Do not be shy.

Show us your colours without delay,

your delicate wings

come to life as the drum beat sings.

The whispering rustle of the Dancers sound

becomes quicker as she feels the ground

from beneath her feet, clad with skins

she shares the energy with her kin.

They watch her,

as she gracefully swings her shawl

they watch her rise, dip and fall,

And as she spins, her arms spread wide

she wears her beautiful shawl with pride.

Rise up little Butterfly

Feel your wings upon the sky,

spreading colours of the rainbow

dance for us, to and fro.

Her feet are light upon the ground

she moves so fast there is no sound,

could she be floating above the earth?

for she shows us all the butterfly birth.

The breath from her lungs fills the air

all the while she moves with elegance and flare.

The beads chatter and click,

tassels sway, swing and flick,

they twist and twirl as the cloth folds and furls,

and the puffs of dust set by her feet

grows in clouds by drum and beat,

She closes her eyes

wrapped in her Shawl of disguise.

Faster she moves as the Butterfly births,

to warm its wings on Mothers earth.

With one dramatic fall and rise

the Butterfly takes to the skies,

adorning nature with colours fair

from the dancing Shawl she wears.

Rise up little Butterfly

Feel your wings upon the sky,

spreading colours of the rainbow

dance for us, to and fro.

For now her dance has taken flight

rising to the warmth of days sunlight,

Soon she will return in a brand new shawl

With another magnificence display for all.

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