Dancing Savvy

When my little girl is no longer little
and more woman than girl
she will know how to dance in a man's arms.

She will know to be graceful,
to allow herself to be lead,
and to allow herself to live in just that space.

She will know that she is meant to be
cherished,
protected,
and valued
as something completely unique and indispensable.

All of these things she will know because right now
when she is tiny and yet mostly unmolded
her father puts his hand on her waist
holds her other hand in his, and shows her how to dance:
how to be graceful, how to be lead, how to live in the moment;
shows her what it means to be cherished, protected, and valued--
because each one of us is somebody completely unique and indispensable.

So that when she is grown and fully self-directed,
she will have reference in her mind, this reminder:
This is how you are to be treated, my girl.
This is the safe place from which every good thing comes.