First Dance
by Linda O’Connell
Chubby little legs stuffed like sausages in pink tights
Itchy ruffled tutu cinched at waist.
She shuffles down the hall
Carrying her ballet slippers.
Takes the stage
In ruby red lipstick and grandma-rouged cheeks.
Bats her eyes, stomps her feet,
Twists, turns, twirls, swoops, sways and sings.
She pirouettes,
Spins further and further
Out of my orbit
Already on her way to independence.
One day she’ll dance on my heart
Shuffle-slide away and
Boogie all night long,
But for now, she’s my ballerina baby.
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Linda O’Connell is happiest when she is surrounded by children – her own, her grandchildren and her preschool students. She has been an early childhood educator for 30 years. Linda’s inspirational, educational and parenting articles, poems and personal essays have been published in Partnership for Learning, The Wonder Years, Chicken Soup for the Soul books, numerous literary magazines, periodicals, anthologies and newspapers. Contact her at billin7@juno.com.
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