I'm Sorry I Missed Dancing with You

She walked up behind me
lightly rubbing her hand
across the center of my back
causing my nerve endings to quiver
I looked deeply into her blue eyes
and said thank you with my own

Was I going to the banquet she inquired?
"Absolutely" I replied, still savoring her touch.
"Will you dance with me then " she asked?
"Absolutely" A dance with her would be like
holding heaven in my arms
having an angel rest her head on my shoulder.
"Absolutely"

We were seated at different tables
when I finally caught her eye
She smiled warmly at me
I could almost feel her hand on
the center of my back again
as I sat and shivered in my seat
She with her crowd and I with mine
politely eating dinner passing the time
The whole time wanting to be
somewhere or with someone else



Dinner completed
I looked for her across the hall
The contrast between her fair skin,
blond hair and black dress
made her an easy target
for my eager eyes

There were literally scores of friends who
required my attention or acknowledgment
that I had to traverse
to get to her side,
her arms,
her soft touch,
her gentle manner

The politics of being me,
the politics of friendship
kept me from her arms as I watched her dance
The needy brunette stood between her and I
The option of being in her sweet embrace was fading
I could not escape soon enough

I watched as she walked out of the hall
an early flight to catch
Quickly I went out too, if only to say goodnight
I looked into Caribbean blue of her eyes
with their lucid look of hurt
I gently reached for her hand and placed it in mine
"I'm sorry I missed dancing with you"
She chivalrously smiled back at me
and softly said, "me too" as we embraced
I was afraid to let her go
that I might never hold her again

If I had one chance to change one thing in my life
it would have been the disheartened look in her eyes that evening
I could only think and say to myself
"I'm sorry I missed dancing with you"
As she walked out of my sight