Roller Disco

In this poem I travel back in time to the early 1980’s and the crazy world of Ra Ra Skirts and roller disco’s and my ill fated attempt to dance on skates. I’ve given it the title Roller Disco I hope you enjoy the read

Roller Disco

It was the early 1980’s
the time of Adam And The Ants Culture Club, Duran Duran, and Wham
when I decided to go to the roller disco
just because I could
my brain tried to explain this may not be good
but when my pal had asked I needed no second invitation
nervously she helped me get my skates on
she wanted this chance to dance far more than I
well there were young fit guys to be had
and I was always glad to take new chances
though to be honest disco’s were never my scene
I was more of a dancing disaster than a dancing queen
my feet were always out of sync
like a dodgy economy I stood on the brink of collapse
as we took the floor I felt my legs wobble
like a shaky table threatening to fall apart
yet somehow still able to stand
if you’ve ever watched Todd Carty on dancing on ice
you’ll know where I’m going with this
to make matters worse I couldn’t resist temptation
though I know I should have tried
as I stepped out on strut my stuff
I can’t deny the colour drained from my face
I wasn’t rocking all over the world
I was falling all over the place
and it could have been so much worse
I was cursed even when I was in the mood for dancing
on attempting to move to Spandau Ballet
as they belted out True my pal insisted
it should be have been gold
though I’m not sure if she meant the song
or the colour of medal she believed she should have won
on the day we sang girls just wanna have fun
whilst dancing time to time after time
committing fashion crimes
dressed in our true colours
as material girls got in the groove
on the night that dignity died
and I made my first and last appearance
at the roller disco.

© Gayle Smith 2020

From Dad To Diana

This poem is one of the most personal I have ever written. It is based on meeting an old friend from my university days and attempting to imagine how she would explain my transition to those of our friends that she still keeps in touch with from those times. I have of course made a few demographic changes to make it more like a poetic story and more relatable to the reader but believe me this poem is more semi autobiographical than it may first appear. I’ve given it the title From Dad To Diana as suggested by my friend and fellow blogger Charlotte Dougall I hope you enjoy the read.

From Dad To Diana

He was always the brainbox at school

sensible played by the rules

kept himself smart

buried his head in the books

went to university got a degree in geography

that was his route out of poverty

moved from the scheme to the west end

married well found a woman

who let him express his feminine side

she was an architect if I remember right

I met him in town with his three daughters

it had been over 20 years since graduation

he was now she and all dolled up

she said she was living full time as a woman

told me it made her feel more human

and the lassies are cool with her switching

from dad to Diana

the youngest said the name suits her

it let’s her be herself and she’s happier now

than she’s ever been

it’s such a shame she had to live with this secret

since her early teens

I had always wondered why

she had dressed as a woman at Halloween

and smiled more than she did

for the rest of the year

I see it clearer now

it was the only night

she could really be herself.

and when all else is said and done

she deserves to have the fun

that Cyndi Lauper sang about time after time

in the years when she should have been dancing

© Gayle Smith 2019