Gentry on both sides of the big pond
Did without a caller for their dances.
Probably thought it crude. Some might have kept
Notes on sleeves or stashed into their cleavage,
Priding themselves on their dancing knowledge.

Common folks didn’t use a caller either.
Didn’t need one. Only had three dances,
Reels, knees up, horse whips and the like.

Brits say that they started the ball rolling.
Servants would have their dances Downstairs,
Do the same dances folks Upstairs did,
But, without the benefit of dancing school,
Someone needed to call out the changes.
Lord knows why it took them all so long,
But look how long it took to invent the wheel.

But listen to this. Plantation party
Going full tilt. in North Carolina.
Black musicians, fiddles, tambourine.
Black fiddler would nod to couples when they
Reached the top, but knew his place of silence.

Next night the blacks have their own frolic,
Fiddler shouts out Git yer sets together.
Make a ring now, up and back you go.
Gennelmens turn yo pardners.

And there you have it.

Dudley Laufman, Canterbury, NH, 2003

www.laufman.org
TWO FIDDLES
Jacqueline & Dudley Laufman
PO Box 61
Canterbury, NH 03224