Dance Lessons

I signed up for dance lessons
perhaps more because I was lonely
than the desire to learn dance.
She had been gone so long
and the quietness of the house
was getting to be more than
I could stand.
I suppose I was frightened
I had not mixed socially for many years.
But I collected all my courage
and went to the small studio
on the third floor of a walk up building.
I was not prepared for the teacher
she was beautiful close to my age.
so graceful like a swan.
Her hair tight to her head
almost like a ballerina.
She taught me the waltz.
But not like a dance
she took beautiful waltz poses
smiling so lovely
as she gazed upward
to an imaginary  audience.
The music so soft and smooth
I found something at last
that made me  happy
for the first time since –well
..for a long time.
She saw I had an aptitude for dance
and spent time teaching me
the rumba, cha cha, and quickstep andTango.
It was when she danced the Tango with me
that I knew I was in love with her.
I felt as though she
was making love to me in dance.
One night she had me stay
and we drank a little glass of wine.
She said how come you never remarried.
You are a very attractive man.
I said because I never found anyone
who I could fall in love with.
I had a special one for twenty years.
I don’t think it comes like that twice
in a lifetime.
I was lucky to have it just once.
She smiled and held my hand.
Don’t you ever get lonely
being on your own.
I said
….Yes
She leaned forward and kissed me softly.
Are you lonely now she whispered?
I breathed quietly…….Yes .

A year later

They played a beautiful waltz at our wedding
and she led me around the floor
as the beautiful music lilted.
She whispered I love my dance partner.
I said I love my teacher.
I was now teaching
beginners class the dance studio.
I don’t think I have ever realized
I could be this happy again
And she loved me as much as I loved her.
And I would dance with her
for the rest of my lifetime.