Līgo Haībun – Juanita

· by · in flashfiction, haibun, haiku, poetry. ·

Līgo Haībun prompt of the week is “and we danced”, and therefore I want to tell you the story of Juanita.

Picture of Flamenco dances from Wikimedia Commons

Picture of Flamenco dances from Wikimedia Commons


She came to the company every morning, and walking with great difficulty she went to her usual place in the corner and sat down with a bored expression. If you didn’t know, you might have mistaken her for an elderly grandmother taking unauthorized leave from a nursing home.
But when Rodriguez brought out his guitar, and his fingers started to dance on the strings a change came and her black eyes flashed with an internal fire. She noted every little mistake the young adepts did. A nod of approval or a finger lifted, signaled to the young girl that their Flamenco skills had improved, or that she needed yet more painful training.


young adepts
judged by her keen eyes
expectations


They all knew her history, once the most celebrated dancer of the company she had now succombed to her arthretis. Juanita had toured the world, and the many lovers that had left their families for a single blissful night with her, was legendary. Now she lived by herself with only memories dancing in her head.


once a queen
celabrated by lovers
wrinkled hands


As Rosa started to dance she glanced briefly at Juanita, and saw a small smile flicker on the old lady’s face. Rosa moved her arms with perfect grace, like she caressed an invisible lover, and as the intensity of the music increased, her dance told stories of rage, jealousy and released passion. She was still too young to express duende, but with age her expression would mature like a good wine. Juanita knew that her granddaughter had the talents to be the new star of the company, and her eyes danced with joy.


talent found
duende will take time
budding rose


—
March 16, 2013

31 responses to “Līgo Haībun – Juanita”

    • Thank you, I find Flamenco so very fascinating… not the least that the dancers sometimes doesn’t peak until they are close to 50 years old. You need that age to show the duende that’s needed. Thank you for reading and commenting

  4. Really enjoyed the picture of Juanita you drew – the loving perfectionist. And your words flow beautifully, just like a dance.

  5. A poetic story, with real feeling and sentiment, and beautifully written. Really a delight. The description is superb, and Juanita’s character enduring and endearing.

  8. I think you have captured Juanita’s discernment of prospective dancers’ promise and her past very well. Those eyes of hers can spot those who feel real emotions through the dance and those who only pretend. It’s a dance that demands a real emotional investment from the dancer because she must be able to portray conflicting feelings at once, such as the strength of pride coupled with the vulnerability of heartbreak. She must be one with the guitar, the tempo might be strong and robust while still conveying the melancholia of loss. I like what you did with this, by focusing on the teacher more than the protege. This is why I return to your writings again and again.

  9. a lovely story..well told..though it tells of the art and its use for budding students, the third stanza on her current situation is particularly touching..nicely done

  11. To write a beautiful fully developed story in so few words is amazing. And the haiku wonderfully accent each part of the story.

  13. Pingback: Līgo Haībun Challenge ~ Picture Prompt | Līgo Editions·

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