Poem - Father Daughter Dance

Father Daughter Dance

At last year’s father daughter dance, I knew nothing in advance. A note came home, I checked a box, then laid out my fancy socks.

Excitement mounted over days, as smiles gilded my girl’s gaze. The father daughter dance was nigh, beneath a diamond velvet sky.

We put on our fancy clothes (extra ironing, extra bows), then drove to the Heart Day Ball and slipped into the dining hall.

“Oh, my goodness!” we both gasped. Around my fingers hers were clasped. We both felt a bit demure; diffident, a tad unsure.

The cafeteria was transformed. Ornamented, lit and warmed. A temporary Paris, France, for our father, daughter Dance.

Our eyes were wide, wet with water. A treasure trove for father, daughter. Dancing dining, glide and twirl, holding close my daddy’s girl.

Father, daughter, dance we did. The two of us were lost amid a million lights and gleaming glow. We felt enchanted, apropos.

That night was magic, you can bet. Shining hours we shan’t forget. A time to bond and hold her near. Now it’s here, another year.

Three-hundred and sixty-four since then nights, I’ve remembered all the twinkling lights. Excited for another chance; another father daughter dance.

Much has changed, though much has not. Wind’s whistled through our world a lot. Still sky above and sod beneath, but longer hair and six less teeth.

A brand new pic – compare, contrast – the space between the years is vast. This father daughter dance was dear, but faded fast and now I fear.

Another memory in the pool, a father daughter dance at school. How many more until they’re gone? A sprinkling few, unless I’m wrong.

Moments mount until they’re passed, rarely slow, too often fast. Treasure each before they fade and truly live the life you’ve made.

When I’m old with silver hair and sitting in my favorite chair, I’ll reminisce, review, reflect; remember when and recollect.

She’ll still want her daddy’s ear, and I’ll still want my baby near. We’ll laugh out loud when we’ve the chance, about that father daughter dance.

Writer Dad

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susan

I was dancing at the wedding I never had, and my fathers cologne was in the air----if I had only had a wedding, and he had lived----it would have been this poignant poem.

Teena

AHH!!! These are the things that form a Very, emotionally healthy women! Keep it up, and I believe that she'll end up just about perfect! :=) If it is up to Jackson, I'll actually be there watching that dance too! :-)

Writer Dad

Laurie: I'm good at taking the pictures. Unloading them from the camera, not so much. : > )

Laurie

The years do fly by. My oldest graduated from high school a years ago and I thought, "How can that be? He was just in preschool!" Cherish it all and take lots of pictures. Before you know it, they'll be moving out!

Writer Dad

Sal: Ah... So I see.

Sal

@WD: No, not fading by any means. Just more of a blinking on and off at a very high rate of speed : ) I was just purely making an observation that this was a post written from the heart instead of the mind....more of the writer, businessman instead of the businessman, writer if you catch my drift.

<abbr>Sal’s last blog post..On Your Mark, Get Set, SCRAM!</abbr>

Writer Dad

Wendi: Here I am lamenting the loss of another tooth and you're talking about her wedding. Sigh. Really though, thanks, I'd love to see that in her wedding album some day.

Lori: Maybe in another ten years or so it will be cool for dudes to be honest about their emotions. I'm sure a lot more dads have the feelings than are always willing to express them.

Matthew: Thanks, Matthew. I'm glad you liked it. One of these days will have to get some folks together for a poetry round-up or some such thing.

Sal: I'll check the song out, I don't recall having heard the title, but I could just be being dim. Of all the goings on... Sal, are you trying to tell me you think I'm fading?
: > )

GreenJello: Memories can't get thrown away or taken away. They're there with us until we've no more breath.

Mark: Thanks, Mark! Nice to meet you.

Patricia: That story is sad, Patricia. We want happy thoughts down here! Just kidding. Thanks for sharing, I enjoyed it.

Vered: I could be wrong, but I'm banking on it.

Karen: Thanks, Karen. How are things?

karen

I really enjoyed this rhyme- I could just picture the two of you dancing. So beautiful and what a special memory to record in writing.

Vered - MomGrind

"She’ll still want her daddy’s ear, and I’ll still want my baby near."

Amen. I am hopeful too.

Patricia

Very lovely, romantic and delicious.

Made me remember my one and only father - daughter dance.....we also had a potluck dinner, and my older brother took the casserole I made out of the oven with his bare hands and burned his hands onto the bowl, I was off doing the decorations. My Mother worked and worked to get his hands free and then race him to the hospital and my father was busy driving home from saving the "world" and someone who needed him and had forgotten the dance and dinner in his exhaustion.
There was no one at home, no cell phones to know what was going on, and I had to wait outside the door until my Father came .....not knowing why I was abandoned. I am very happy now 50 years later that my brother's hands were healed and that my mom did the right thing...but when ever I need the release of a good cry, I remember sitting out in the hallway waiting for my father to arrive. A different kind of gift.

My Father could not dance and I believe was thankful that another opportunity never arose.

<abbr>Patricia’s last blog post..I Request the Honor of your Comments</abbr>

Mark

Very nice post! I have three kids (2 daughters and a boy)....I can relate! :)

GreenJello

Children grow so fast, and the material things we give them eventually go by the wayside.

Memories are forever.

<abbr>GreenJello’s last blog post..Announcing the First GreenJello Jiggler Award Winners!</abbr>

Sal

I can't wait till my little girl has her first dance. It reminds me of the song Cinderella by Steven Curtis Chapman. If you get a chance, check it out and I can guarantee it will twang your heart strings. Of all of the goings on at Writer Dad, this is the Sean that I remember from the beginning. Eloquent, Sean, just eloquent.

<abbr>Sal’s last blog post..On Your Mark, Get Set, SCRAM!</abbr>

Matthew Dryden

Spectacular.

<abbr>Matthew Dryden’s last blog post..Cee?</abbr>

Lori

Another precious father and daughter memory shared. It's so nice to hear that kind of voice and emotion within the Blogopolis.

<abbr>Lori’s last blog post..Update: ‘The End’ … and …</abbr>

Wendi Kelly-Life's Little Insp

Writer dad,

I envision that in her wedding Album someday, or read just before the father daughter dance at her wedding.

You are a lucky man Sean. And Extra Lucky that you take the time to stop and notice it.

<abbr>Wendi Kelly-Life's Little Inspirations’s last blog post..Inspiring Tips to Solve Procrastination for Good</abbr>

Writer Dad

Dave: Thanks, man. We had to get out of the house. Max had Cars running on a loop!

Kelvin: Thanks, I appreciate it!

KoolAid: I think it must have been. In the interest of full disclosure, it was for mommies and sons as well, but it wouldn't have flowed quite as nicely.

Eric: One of my best? YAY!

Kyddryn: Thanks, K!

Randi: Speechless is good. I like all the white space.

Janice: My absolute pleasure. I don't how I'm going to manage through the difficult teenage phases, but I feel like I have to start bracing myself yesterday.

Kristin T: That's my favorite line as well. It's the one that made Daisy cry.

Marc: Tick tock,tick tock, tick tock. That's funny!

Marc - WelshScribe

For some reason my fiancée is making me re-read your recent posts. There is also this strange ticking noise whenever she's around, like some sort of clock that keeps getting louder... :)

Another wonderful post Sean, thanks for sharing!

<abbr>Marc - WelshScribe’s last blog post..How To Be a Ghostwriter</abbr>

Kristin T. (@kt_writes)

So precious. And some beautiful writing, as always. I really like this: "Much has changed, though much has not. Wind’s whistled through our world a lot. Still sky above and sod beneath, but longer hair and six less teeth."

<abbr>Kristin T. (@kt_writes)’s last blog post..Making do: less money and a bit of paint</abbr>

janice

"Moments mount until they’re passed, rarely slow, too often fast. Treasure each before they fade and truly live the life you’ve made."

My favourite line. I've been a stay at home mum since I had my daughter and am glad we made that choice. She's a teenager now and the heartwarming memories we have of her magical, innocent, wonder years are helping us through what can sometimes be difficult and draining teenage phases. Thanks for sharing precious moments like these with us.

Randi

What a beautiful legacy to leave for a child. She will always know she is loved. Do you feel the hush in the comments room? We're all speechless.

<abbr>Randi’s last blog post..Cool Things we did in 2008</abbr>

Kyddryn

Oh, how lovely.

Shade and Sweetwater,
K

<abbr>Kyddryn’s last blog post..Jekyll (no Hyde)</abbr>

Eric Hamm

One of your best rhymes, Sean. Thanks for sharing such a personal moment with us. Eric

<abbr>Eric Hamm’s last blog post..Nursery Prep: A Lesson In Simplicity</abbr>

Kool Aid

This weekend must have been Father Daughter weekend because Trey and Monkey had their dance, too. You write about it so beautifully.

<abbr>Kool Aid’s last blog post..Daddies and daughters</abbr>