I’m ida (who are you)

^{Ida Pender 06/03/1922 (Jazz Baby collection 27/06/2021)}

oh
I’m just a girl
from elsternwick

I was born
near there –
in brighton –
so
I haven’t moved around
very much

I learned to dance
with miss lillias
and
she would have us all
perform
in public
to a performance list
that we practiced

some of the girls
sang
but I was always
more interested
in moving around
and feeling
like I was free

when I was a kid –
(I’m eighteen
now) –

I used to climb
out of my bedroom
window

in the nighttime

and I’d find my way
to st kilda . . .

to the palais de dance
or the green room

I was too
young
really

I know that

but
oh that music
just needed
for me to dance

I still love
to dance

jazz

they say that I’m
a jazzer

I suppose
I must be
because
I love it so

that’s
where I met
leslie

he was
so
good looking
and well dressed

he loved the way
I moved

he makes me happy

anyway
that’s all I have
to say
about me

I don’t want to speak
about my picture
in the paper

that was just
a misunderstanding

I’m ida
that’s all . . .

what’s your name

~