Learning to dance

He crawls to me, wobbly even with hands and knees;
I lean down and hold out my hands.
First one hand is grasped, then two.
He pushes down against them, and rises to his knees.
Now the hard part. I lift my hands a little;
He pushes again and struggles, makes it to his feet.
Hands gripping mine tight, I watch him grin and sway.

Dance with me, my child.
Someday, you will grasp some other woman's hands,
And you will hold each other up,
Hold each other tight,
But today, you dance with me.