Listen to audio
“ Body In Motion ”
– a composition –
I watch beguiled
The body move,
At mesmeric pace
In perfect groove,
Be the beauty
Of her grace,
A striking figure
Neath satin skin,
Of golden colour
Rippling so within,
Be sensual power
Tautly glistening,
As her steps tower
Ever provoking,
A terpsichore
Held of a dance,
That undulates
And counteracts,
To elongate
A composition,
Finds articulate
As body in motion,
Wants speak of life…
Hence as she soars
Like the god of Jove,
Wouldst thus express
The splendour she wove,
In that alluring motility
Said be her body in motion!
© Jean-Jacques Fournier
Photo, excerpt of Body In Motion, by Tono Stano…
Line Drawings, excerpts – by my daughter, Nicole Fournier…
Eco – Performance Artist…
Music – exerpt of Body and Soul, by Woody Herman…
Poetry on a canapé 
The art of movement, whether it be dancing, walking, jogging, has been with us since ancient times. I love how your bring out the connection of motion and life: “A composition, Finds articulate As body in motion, Wants speak of life…”
Thank you, Rebecca… The connection of body and motion as a composition of life had me wanting to express the awareness of it poetically. To do so required I draw a word picture with a specific example… ergo what better than the beauty of the human body, specially the female body whose sensuality is more expressive than that of the male, at least it is in motion.
Using my daughter Nicole’s line drawings excerpts and Tono Santo’s photo excerpt, I thought would give my endeavour some credibility. It seems i wasn’t mistaken, if I read Liz Gauffreau’s comment correctly!
You thoughts always come through brilliantly, Jean-Jacques. My niece is a contemporary jazz and ballet dancer with DJD in Calgary. I have watched her from when she first started when she was 7 or 8, to her education at Rambert in England, to her professional career as a dancer. What I especially appreciate is that movement is part of who we are, that sensuality and practicality go hand in hand. Check out this link about DJD showing both young and old: https://vimeo.com/218867592
Always amazing to me, Rebecca, what a few words said at a given time will in return trigger the opening of a new and interesting discovery.Thus as in this instance of exchange on the subject of ‘Body In Motion’ the poem, the far-reaching connections attached to its seemingly virtual tentacles. This time discovering your talented niece, the dancer extraordinaire and her exceptional contribution thru her art. In essence art in its multitude of applications, languages as in the form of expressions, materials and colours, that communicate thru sound and words or gestures, etc., etc., said art as a whole is the absolute center of life.
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We have the very best conversations, Jean-Jacques. Your words have a way of leading us through many pathways of exploration. My gratitude for sharing your poetry. You have said it brilliantly: “art as a whole is the absolute center of life.”
Ah, my dear Jean-Jacques, that is a beautiful composition and Nicole’s drawings in perfect harmony!
Thank you, Marina, and yes I have the good fortune of having two talented daughters, one of whom, Nicole, is a talented artist as well.
The apple… huh?!!!!
You’ve achieved a very sensual poem perfectly accentuated by Nicole’s drawings.
Sometimes ,something that has the potential of achieving what you’re after does so, with a little help from a friend, or in this case a talented daughter and lest we forget a very fitting Stano photo… Thanks Liz!
You’re welcome, Jean-Jacques!
That’s beautiful.
Ah,my dear Paulette, great minds do indeed think alike, for I too feel as you do about this poem, as does Marianne, my constant reader, etc, etc… Thank you my friend!
This is so sensual. Lovely words. Such wonderful imagery. Really good.