For Phoebe Mendes

You dance like a bird on the waters of life
As your glorious arms unfurl
You fill the room with spark and zoom
Your hair falls, shine and curl
You rage and prance your own sweet dance
Like fireworks in the skies
Surprising, whirling, then a twirling
Smile into Daddy’s eyes.

A memory of mine creeps up
And suddenly I see
Myself in tutu, pale and pink
With tights and shoes and glee
Performing for an audience
In School’s prestigious Hall
The music overwhelms my ears
And I’m still very small …

I see you grown – my bird has flown –
Professional and slim
Styled and tidy, trained and dressed
To gather swans. Only the best
Can take the pace, survive the work
And daily promise not to shirk
To come and go beyond the bell
To make a mountain out of hell:
A dancer’s life? My Phoebe’s choice
And we shall listen to her voice.

For my most beautiful grand-daughter, with love