I wrote this poem for my dance teacher, Al Gilbert. I was only three-and-a-half when he cupped my hand in his, while smiling and looking into my eyes. From that moment on, my life changed forever!

Floor

There stood a
Three-year-old child
In the middle of a
Wooden dance floor,
Lonely and scared
With heavy metal bars
Wrapped around her leg.

Then in came a man
With a quiet smile,
Asking the little girl
To take some steps
Towards him

Inwardly, the little girl
Trembled and thought
To herself…
“All right, but only
This time.”

The ribbon-dress girl
Walked for the man,
Limping an irregular
Rhythm with her locked
Knee and her paralyzed left arm

She, for the very first time
Felt different
She could hear sounds
Screaming in her ears and
She could see her imperfect
Body yelling to be let loose!

You can order my poetry collection, including this poem, here: Reflections of My Heart.

To learn more about the legendary Al Gilbert, see http://www.tapdancingresources.com/dancers/al-gilbert/.

Original text ©2025 by Karen Lynn-Chlup. All rights reserved. Image from Karen Lynn’s personal collection.