TANGO – ARGENTINIAN
Maureen Clifford ©
The #ScribblyBark Poet
Spawned in the
backstreet brothels
and bordellos of
Buenos Aires
the ballet –like
dance
‘the tango of the compadron’
between consenting
males
flourished.
Men danced -
locked in symbolic
mortal combat
in the steamy heat
– bodies brushing,
touching,
embracing
in a dance of
passion…
Until women were
drawn
to the raunchy
masculinity
of the predatory
male
and wove their
limbs sinuously
in syncopated
rhythm
to the music of
the guitars,
play acting the
role
of pimp and
prostitute
bodies pressed
breast to chest.
Now sleek evening
gowns
black tuxedos, top
hats and spats
replaced the rough
dress
of the compadron.
The argentine
tango became gentrified.
But still on dark
nights
on cobbled streets
in corners of the old town
couples dance –
joined at the hip
beneath the light
of the street lamps
to a guitar
playing
with passion and
fire
a syncopated ostinato rhythm.
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