Released October 15 2022, this new chapbook from JJSK features a collection of dance-themed poems.
Works in this collection are inspired by and dedicated to dance and movement artists, cultural ambassadors, various dance styles, and dear friends.
Poetic forms in this collection include free verse, short poems, haiku, vispo, and acrostics.
Released October 15 2022, this new chapbook from JJSK features a collection of dance-themed poems.
Works in this collection are inspired by and dedicated to dance and movement artists, cultural ambassadors, various dance styles, and dear friends.
Poetic forms in this collection include free verse, short poems, haiku, vispo, and acrostics.
Dancing Words
A Poetry Collection
Copyright © 2022
Jocelyne Smallian-Khan / Smallian-Khan Ltd.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without express permission in writing from the author/publisher.
For information contact:
jjsmalliankhan@gmail.com
http://www.jjsk.ca
First Edition: September 2022
ISBN: print 978-1-7780584-2-4 / e-book 978-1-7780584-3-1
Dedication
To my dance
teachers, mentors,
colleagues, peers,
students, and friends
You are legion
You are vital
You empower
You inspire
Please
never stop being
who you are
Dancing Words
Contents
Carnivale. 2
The Dancer. 4
A Dance. 5
Tannoura. 6
Tannoura-Tannoura-Tannoura. 7
Zeffah. 8
Can Can. 9
À La Barre. 10
Dancacrostic. 12
You Are the Dance. 13
Carried Away. 14
Dabke. 15
Ghaziya. 16
Ghawazi 17
ArtWorkEthic. 18
Two Haiku for Zahra. 19
Musician and Dancer. 20
Nritya. 21
Nuance. 22
Made It Right 23
Dancing for Me. 24
The Heart Still Dances. 25
She Danced. 26
Temple Dancer. 28
En Pointe. 29
Tease. 30
Rhumba. 31
Art Beat 32
Snazzy Jazzy. 33
Express the Dance. 34
In The Studio. 35
About the Author. 36
Also from Jocelyne Smallian-Khan. 37
Carnivale
For Bernie
Winding - shining - sparkling - free
Festive - blissful - dance with me
The Dancer
For Johanne
The waist
The hips
The ankle
The wrist
The eyes
The fingers
The shoulder
The leg
The body
The essence
The spirit
The soul
Dancing Words is a collection by the poet Jocelyne Smallian-Khan. Smallian-Khan's thirty one poems are themed around dance and movement, many of which being dedicated to individuals close to the author. Lengths and styles of the poems vary, including haikus, one stanza statements and poems spanning multiple pages.
This is a nice little collection of poems and I am quite sure any reader will find a favourite in amongst the collection. Two standout favourites for me are the short a sweet three liner "Temple Dancer" which considers the movement portrayed in ancient art and "Tannoura, Tannoura, Tannoura". The latter rates highly for its quirkiness and the author's decision to twist the words into a circle shape which adds unexpected energy and bounce to the content.
Where I perhaps would have liked more in Smallian-Khan's work is in her use of description and imagery, which felt frustratingly lacking. In most cases the poems are too short to be given the room to breathe and expand in the reader's imagination. They are over too soon. The use of international dialect also creates confusion, it makes some of the poems a harder experience to read. It is hard to truly become immersed in poetry if you cannot understand what is being conveyed. That said, I am the first to accept that as a native English speaker with poor grasp on global language this could be a case of reader error.
To the right readership, the type who revel in short and snappy poetry, there is a lot to take away in Dancing Words. Those in search of beefy sagas, poems with ample detail and strong visuals may need to look further afield. It makes for a likeable and pleasant read, just not something that can be so readily debated over in poetry groups.
AEB Reviews