Samba by Joanna Zaczek

Dancing in Rio de Janeiro upon the mosaic streets – black and white pieces beneath my feet, my body moves from side to side like the wild ripples in the river. The rhythm and I are as thick as thieves in the streets, in the eyes of the musicians, in the heart of the city. Bangles on my wrist clang together, sliding up and down my arms. The hem of my skirt follows my every sway until I twirl and it spreads in a carousel of moving color. Men in striped shirts dance around me playfully smiling and throwing to the world’s ears the heartbeat of Brazilian streets. Listening or not, I move on my toes, touching every tile, every piece of Rio de Janeiro and drinking up every drop of rhythm, life, and cachaça I can take. Body still moving, heart still beating, I slip into that fizzing golden world.