Nineteen Fourty Four
[dancing the foxtrot]
Memories surfaced, I saw my parents
young and full of themselves.
He an Army Air Force pilot.
She a hostess at the USO.
The sudden rushing realization
of youth, impetuousness, and intention
to make a difference
in a world at war.
Feeling grateful for this . . .
this source of influence is deep in my bones.
Dictates of the time
flying into the future, together,
flying in formation
towards a life together
Moving on as seeing them anew
no longer as old: young, with all that vigor.
No dementia any more, gone now
they are dancing the foxtrot together to Benny Goodman.
— Raymond Whitaker
