Mother Daughter Waltz

mother, a lead
daughter, a follow
hand to hand they begin

it starts with a mother
lead whirling her daughter
who follows who follows

right off the ground
circles and circles
they go round and round

both are quite
slender, elm
branches tender

extending
and blousing
and leaning together

two red leaves swirling
night music, sterling
softly so softly

they circle again
oh! for the chance of it
just for the dance of it

waltz with a daughter
like ripples on water
in circles unending

gracing and bending
winding and wending
and dancing with her

hand to hand
soft lilting stand
hand to hand

and open, release