Applying the Scientific Method
Author: Bill Roberts
Describe Experiment
I went to a country-western joint to meet girls and dance.
Most of the girls were women, with men.
They danced with me anyway.
Until the joint closed.
Parameters of Experimentation
I figured, go for broke – hold nothing back.
Each dance turned out to be a two-step.
Once I tried jitterbugging, to no avail.
Two-stepping is better in cowboy boots, not sneakers.
List Results
A scientist seemed welcome in this environment.
I danced with a new gal each number.
The guys looked relieved, consumed lots of beer.
2:00 A.M. closing came mighty early.
Conclusions
Country-western joints are accessible for socialization.
Though strenuous, dancing is aerobic exercise.
I would certainly consider repeating the experiment.
After recovery from the skull fracture.
(Published online in the April 2009 issue of Thick With Conviction and nominated for online poem of the year)
Note: This was just a fun exercise to somehow apply my scientific background into an arena with which I’m only vaguely familiar, country-western music and dancing. I grew up with country music in the Delmarva area surrounding D.C., heard many country stars on the way up, and am getting back to these “roots” again late in life. Country-western makes me want to dance but, alas, I don’t own cowboy boots. Still, I’m an aficionado of dance, all kinds, from two-stepping, ballet, modern (a la Pilobolus and so many others), ballroom, backroom, even dancing with the stars (as long as they’re overhead, not those out-of-work faded stars on TV).
