December 6, 2022

soundtracking

Shane Schick

Rigid though I stand, composed as is my face,

my eyes betray the choreography—

the frolicking, the rollicking

the never-mind-the-bollocks-ing— 

of an eclectic but select discography.

​

Between two earbuds hang the VIP room’s velvet rope

of an after-hours club, no fixed address.

On sidewalks and on subways, 

in food courts and in hallways,

I’m insulated by the perfect playlist 

​

Like a visitor and prisoners divided by some plexiglass,

the soundscape means I don’t hear what they’re saying.

While couples bitch and bicker,

and passersby push past and litter,

my inner lighter’s lit, and I keep swaying.

Shane Schick just wants to dance, whether it's on the floor or on the page. His recent playlists have included a remix of "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" by Sylvester with Michael Gray, "Amor Fati" by Washed Out, "Uz Eyez" by Peking Duk & Al Wright, and “Castles” by Freya Ridings. He gets into the groove with his wife and three children in Whitby, Ont. More: ShaneSchick.com/poetry. Twitter: @ShaneSchick