The beat is steady, unsyncopated
The singing wordless, the melody minor.
The dances symbolic, ceremonial
The grass dance, the smoke dance,
The shawl dance, the blanket dance,
The jingle dress dance.
Each dance has a story.
Colorful regalia, feathers, beads, and bells
Leggings and breechcloths, moccasins, and shawls
The children dance and I watch.
I have watched them for years
As I have watched their parents.
At first tripping, awkward, unable to keep the beat
And now precise, expressive,
Having learned to contain youthful exuberance
With respect and dignity
They spin with the accented beat
They stop exactly when the music ends.
Lorna Coppola
Mastic
Coppola is a member of the Hampton Bays-based writing group Poets Rising — Ed.
Voting RedHampton Bays has, until recently, been considered the un-Hamptons. The working part of town, recently it has been so-called “discovered”: We have the best beaches, no mansions on Dune Road, no parking problems, hidden trails in the woods, a wonderful...
A Team PlayerThese days, government has been tarnished with the us-vs.-you mentality. It has clouded many candidates’ and people’s judgment. I have the belief that you should base your vote on the person rather than the party. We need good people in...
Not a DefermentOn February 18, after conducting just one public hearing — the minimum required by New York State law — Bill Manger passed a property tax cut that will exclusively benefit some of the most expensive homes in Southampton Village [“Southampton...
Losing GroundIn 2017, East Hampton Town reduced the maximum size of the inside of a home on a half acre from 4,000 to 3,600 square feet. Now on the table is 2,900 square feet. For 1 acre, the number was reduced...
Black History 365Do you know the history of Seneca Village and beautiful iconic Central Park? Let’s learn together. Seneca Village was a 19th century settlement of mostly African American landowners in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, within what would...
Support a Free PressThe other day, we learned that Donald Trump had the Associated Press kicked out of a news conference and barred from future ones because it would not call the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. This is outrageous. But...
Reform Takes TimeIf Ed Surgan enjoys reading letters from local Democrats [“It Stinks,” Letters, February 27], he’s likely to have an aneurysm reading a letter from a local Republican who says the same thing. I’ve been a Republican since I registered to...
Representing?Regarding Christopher Walsh’s article about Nick LaLota [“Constituents Brave Chill To Protest LaLota’s Lack of In-Person Town Halls,” 27east.com, February 19: I agree with the protesters. He has never had a town hall, a “meet the candidate,” and his office...
