After the Charleston
Dan Johnson
© 16 August 2014
In American Mah Jongg there is a dance of the tiles called the Charleston. Much like the Charleston dance of the 1920’s, no one knows the outcome until … the music ends.

Right to the game, this game of love, so hard to understand

Over my head minstrels sang about jealousy and deceit;

Left to my own devices, a plan I had to scheme,

Left to wonder if this was just a pathetic poets dream, while

Over in the corner my true -love waited impatiently for me,

Right up until I heard the sound … of the diamond ring that tumbled from my lover’s hand … to the cold hard ground … that was when I knew the dance was over.