Midsummer Dancing

Sun glints off a window
in the red painted house,
while the dark wooden barn
offers quiet coolness,
respite for the serious dancers,
and those who like to chat,
catching up with friends
and neighbours, thirsty
for beer or schnapps,
in preparation for singing
and more dancing
around a flowery maypole
tied with ribbons
into the long night.

Kim M. Russell, 18th June 2026

This Thursday at the dVerse Poets Pub, it is Open Link Night, when we link up one poem of our choice or write a poem inspired by a mini prompt provided by our host – this month it’s Björn, who tells us about midsummer celebrations in Sweden and shares a traditional midsummer picture by the Swedish artist Anders Zorn as a mini prompt.

15 thoughts on “Midsummer Dancing”

      1. You are welcome. I wish I had never watched Ari Aster’s movie, “Midsommar.” It turned a beautiful festival into a trigger word for me.

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  6. I like the sunshiny tenor throughout this ephrastic intrepretation, this line in particular resonated with me “catching up with friends
    and neighbours, thirsty
    for beer or schnapps”

    We must live in the same neighborhood, ha!!!

    🩵

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  8. How I love the Maypole – I loved dancing it as a child and tear up when I see it performed these days. However, it’s not as common in New Zealand where I now am than the UK. I’ve even heard a Kiwi announcer say “and here we have ____ primary school who are going to do some pole dancing for us!”. Thanks for the imagery!

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  9. It’s as if the summer is the red barn moving into the place of winter. Lovely telling. I think I see the maypole.

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