An antidote to ennui,
My friends of age, perchance
With hands held high and feet askew
Take note when old men dance.

Cast off care and bend thy knee
O, thou poetic host,
Students of Dylan, Derlith, Frost
And Bill, the Holy Ghosts.

When banjos bang the Bluegrass beat
With rhythm ye entranced
Release thy souls thus freed my friends
Step high in old men's dance.

Double shuffle, heal and toe
Ceili, reel or clog
Kilted, combed, go Strip the Willow
And dance the epilogue.

With children, friends or wife, embraced,
Or maiden once romanced
Or all alone with heart, my friends,
Rejoice when old men dance.


Mango VanRasp
11/2/19