A Poem For A Dancer

I cannot forget the first time
We hung out together
Outside of the club
When we had lunch at Ponderosa
In the early evening.
The outside cover of you ever so appealing
Left me feeling I could conquer the world
Just be being around you.
During conversation I wanted to know if
There were any coffee shops
That might have poetry readings.
You told me about two,
And I liked the one
Called the Coffee Bean.
After we finished eating,
I followed you and your boyfriend
To where the café was located.
We went inside, the room shaped
Like a rectangle,
And on the outside
Of the building was a banner
That said, open mic Friday nights 8-10 PM.
I ordered a café latte
And asked about the open mic
And if that was for poetry readings.
And was told as to when they were held.
I was excited about the prospect
Of reading my poetry
In front of my friends and others.
After sitting down we talked
About when all of us would meet here
To hear me read.
We left that night,
And the following week
I read in front of a small crowd.
It all comes down to this:
A mutual appreciation for the arts
This piece is all about respect
For a dancer in Fredonia NY
That is intellectually beautiful.
Look deep inside the cover
The next time you go to a strip club,
Because if you don’t,
You’ll lose out on what used to be before your eyes.