Dancer Not Dancing Poem by Marc Radzyner

today in the kids' blue pool
in the milk white light
blue-eyed infant girl, no more than four
alone wading in the water
making movements out of herself
world still coming into being, no thought
no thought I was watching
nobody watching except me-
infant steps in the water
this way, that way,
circle a half circle,
threads her arms together
mouthing words to herself-
counting this way that way
weaves in the water, circles round
circles the other way,
flings her arms up and holds,
little legs in the water
dancer not dancing
singer not singing
thinking nobody sees
I'm not me

no one else in the pool,
no one else in the world,
wet tangled hair down

I must step this way too,
yes then around, arms up now,
I'm not me, I'll never be
move legs around
move head around now oh
that must be enough now
climb out of the pool
wet hair down
walk away through the brown grass
in the milk white light