Daddy Daughter Dance - Her First Dance

Her First Dance

First things first,

I've the need to explain

I'm a father with daughters

all three hooked to my train.

Each year at this time

I’m blessed with the chance

to accomp'ny a daughter

to her "Daddy-daughter" dance.

Now you can't put a value

on this calendar date,

For what dad’s could see as duty,

His little girl sees as fate.

While you're in a routine

filled with deadlines and demand,

She's anticipating the evening,

every move has been planned.

Right down to the dress

and the braids in her hair

She's putting touches on dreams

that have always been there.

Tucked deep under tissue

bound up in her heart

these longings for love

have been there from the start.

But this longing for dresses

and makeup and dancing

makes its appearance

and starts its romancing.

It's hard to describe

this spell on your daughter

and the spell it casts

upon me as her father.

I saw it in Taylor

when we got the letter

of all her reactions

there isn't one better.

Her eyes gaze and glaze

with a little-girl wonder

the power of this invite

irresistibly stuns her.

She starts to prepare

for months in advance

moving about

as if in a trance.

The week of the dance

She has a scandalous way,

reminding me to remember

the long-awaited Wednesday.

The day just before

she put a note on her door

"Keep out of here, Daddy!"

There’s no way to ignore.

She was hiding her dress

in the closet within

if I peeked for a second

I'd be committing a sin.

The day soon arrived

You couldn't ask for more

the weather was perfect

So I went to the store.

I purchased some roses

and I searched for a card

That would touch little Taylor

and hit her heart hard.

When I returned home

I arranged the three flowers,

I wrote out my heart

As I counted the hours.

We picked up the girls

from their long day at school

and headed to dinner

where they literally drool.

Logan's Roadhouse 

is Tay's favorite place,

the kid’s steak-tip dinner

puts a smile on her face.

After packing our guts

with peanuts and steak

we headed for home

preparations to make.

As we pulled in the driveway

Taylor jumped out the car,

You could see in her eyes

That her gifts weren’t that far.

She opened her card

Eyes scanning each line

Soaking in words

For which girl’s hearts pine.

She glanced up when finished

Eyes catching my face,

She shuffled to hug me

I absorbed the embrace.

But this wasn’t the time

She wasn’t quite ready,

So she darted upstairs

To make herself pretty.

With all kinds of help

From her mom and her sisters

She dolled herself up

As they lovingly priss’d her.

I tried to get dressed up

In my tie and my suity,

But they sent me downstairs

Guarding “Her Beauty”.

I heard the commotion

Downstairs through the floor

It seemed more intense

Than the year just before.

They paced back and forth

All to get things just so

I heard them reacting

With an “Ahh” or an “Ohh”!

And before I could say

A hearty “lickity split”,

My princess came down

Her lips pursed just a bit.

The glide in her stride

And her head held so high

Let me know she was feeling

Like a pure, spotless bride.

She flew to my arms

That I wrapped all around her

Holding her body

Soaking in all the wonder.

Without further adieu

We sped out the door,

The night was still young

Tay was ready for more.

On our trip to the ballroom

I reached out my hand

She clasped like a locket

Grabbing hold of her man.

Goin’ a mile a minute

She talked her heart out,

Sometimes I’m not sure

She even knew what about.

The excitement could almost

be cut with a knife,

This girl was dream-drunk

Havin’ the night of her life.

We arrived and we parked

And we walked to the door,

We were greeted by hosts

Telling us what’s in store.

We hung up our coats

And took a quick photo

I felt like the party

Thrown for Bilbo by Frodo.

The chandeliers glistened

and the music was soft,

there was even a staircase

to led up to a loft.

And hand in hand

We made our way,

To the wooden floor

To dance away.

The music was upbeat

But it didn’t take long,

for the deejay to switch

and play a slow song.

And over the speakers

Came my favorite song

As I snatched up my girl

And sang right along.

“Everything I do,

I do it for you”

As she laid on my shoulder

Pressed together like glue.

She straddled my waist

As I spun her around,

And a tear graced my cheek

And fell to the ground.

I wish I could bottle

This moment of time,

Freeze-frame with my daughter

Capturing the sublime.

We fast danced and slow danced

I was starting to tire,

But the songs just kept going

Adding fuel to fire.

I would toss her and fling her

And twirl her around,

As her body was spinning

So was her gown.

It would spread out and widen

And fill up the room

It felt like a wedding

And I felt like the groom.

But just when you felt

Like the night just got started

And this daddy and daughter

Could never be parted.

The announcement was made

That the night would soon end

Taylor got all her stuff

And said ‘bye to her friends.

It seemed we were leaving

Behind every dream,

But, alas, I cried out:

“To the land of Ice Cream!”

We found a sweet spot

Where we made our own sundae

The night wasn’t over

On this beautiful “fun day”.

As we cleaned off our spoons

And headed toward home,

Tay turned and she said,

“Dad, I like being alone.”

I knew what she meant

In a family of females,

Where it’s easy to feel

Like spam among emails.

I told her I loved

Being just by ourselves,

That there’s just something special

Without everyone else.

And sitting alone

On the way home that night,

We talked of the evening

and shared each highlight.

Next thing I knew

We were back out our house

Where every creature was stirring

Including each mouse.

We came through the door

And the questions came flying,

Putting Tay in the spotlight

For which she was dying.

She replayed the night

With her steel-trap mind,

There wasn’t a word

She was strugglin’ to find.

Her sisters inquired

Leaving no stone unturned

Until I declared:

“This meeting’s adjourned!”

Their mom and myself

Promptly said our goodnights

And just like they’re used to

We turned off the lights.

But turn off their mouths

We didn’t attempt,

For on the night of their dances

They are somewhat exempt.

For though you can force

A girl into her bed,

There no way of stopping

The dance in her head.

A head that is filled

With words that need voice,

So we let them keep talking

As a logical choice.

As I sit here reflecting

on what seems the last chance,

it hits me that this

may not be my last dance.

For though school dances

Have come to a close,

There’s a possible dance

In the future, who knows?

When a day may arrive

Where my daughter will marry

the “man of her dreams”

Just the thought is so scary.

But right in the midst

Of that beautiful day,

In the fullness of time

Bryan Adams will play.

And I’ll dance with daughter,

And she’ll dance with her father

And the guy who she married

Will seem like a bother.

He’ll just have to face it,

On this day of romance,

He might be her lover,

But I’m her first dance.

That way back when he was

Roughhousing with boys,

Picking his nose

And playing with toys.

I was the man of this

Young girls heart,

I was the one that

Gave Taylor her start.

He might be the one

To sweep her away,

But he’ll never know

Her heart the same way.

For though it may seem

That he’s her romance,

He better remember

I was her “first dance”.

I love you, Taylor Hope Lena