On this same day, 1374
folks in Aachen, Germany began fast
jerkings of face, hands and feet, shocking their
loved ones and neighbors. Mania would last
for days, sometimes longer. A priest, I guess,
decided St. Vitus had cursed them. Named
it for him. Strange for a saint not to bless
but go the other way. Brought the town fame,
though. What would you say if I told you that’s
how I feel, seeing you waltz in the room,
graceful as Makarova, ballet flats
barely touching the floor. My body’s doomed
to invisible face twitching, legs cursed
to shaking, hand scribbling this damned love verse.
Roger Armbrust
June 24, 2020
