Man Dancing with a Baby

Before balance, before counting, before The record glistens and the needle slides, Grating, into the overture, there is the end Of weight, the leaning into nothing and then A caught breath, the record listens, the needle slides Over slowly, and all at once around us a woman’s voice Stretches weightless, leaning into nothing. Like a clothesline, the taut chorus: oh, hilarious Oh baby, all around us, over slowly, a woman’s voice Gathers above the pick me up, pick me up And the desperate put, put me down. First the tightrope, Then the light foot, and the taunting chorus Pick me up, pick me up. Oh, oh baby. The slippery floor shimmers and spins like a record while The light is swinging footloose on its rope Out of time. The shadows Slip, shimmering black, and spin across the floor, Then turn back and pick up again. Oh seedpod stuck for just One moment on the cattail, out of time, out of shadows, Downy cheek against a beard: oh scratches On the record, oh baby, oh measure Oh strange balance that grips us On this side of the world.