Invitation to Dance (For Tim), Antony Johae

You took every chance to dance, like a firebrand,
with all and sundry at the Club
in those early days at the Albert pub
with Tom Collins and his trad jazz band.

You advanced, like a lion, at Abberton,
engaged local girls, pert and pretty,
and weary weekenders down from the city
in a jaunty jive not to be forgotten;

took novices in hand at the House between the Stockwell Streets,
swung them into swinging sways
and turns to make them giddy and amazed,
enough for tender feet to dream of dancing in their sleep.

At the Rovers Football Club in Stanway
you approached women thick and feline,
small and tall, spirited and benign,
strutted and stomped with them in remarkable display.

On the move to Marks Tey, you danced with yet more agility,
combined jitterbug with deft salsa steps,
skipped with your partner in a polka and – lest anyone forget –
switched from one to t’other in adept versatility.

Loyal to the last, your faithful Club attendance,
the filling of an empty floor with Muriel’s swirling magic,
Lynn’s delirious jive, Maureen’s strong stomp, Diane’s tread to music
all this coined by you in The Spirit of Jazz, in the spirit of your dance.