dad would dance

dad would dance







it never struck me, 
like
lightning
loves a tree.


and he
was never one to
instruct me,
but
now i see.


on those starry starry nights
so many moons ago
when he
stole mom excused themselves
for a round of
heel and toe. 


us kids
thought it was just too funny. 
but he
was out there
a whirling dervish with his honey. 


and as the dance floor cleared
the awestruck stared
the crowd would sway and sing. 
there was
mom and dad spinning
and wide-mouth grinning
to the bands
open invitation defying gravity’s inclination
to keep
both feet on the ground.


now
my genes
move in different circles, 
a bag of bones
on
two left feet.


so i swing and sway in my poets way
to the metered rhythms
of the street.
and recall the chances
dad
romancing mom with dances, 
no two
ever moved so sweet. 


seems
dad danced his way into paradise
in the arms of
his one true love. 
and
the heavens opened right here on earth
sent them
both sailing above.


i guess he always knew
even if
i would ignore, 
how much love there is in leading
with your heart
open and freewheeling
out there
on that ballroom floor.








© sjw  5/26/06





from the 'beauty series' of poems