The Nutcracker Soldier is in Denial

This was originally published about five years ago on this site under my WriteBeLight poems. The video may be slightly different.

The Nutcracker Soldier's in denial,
Of whom he really is.
Married with 3 children,
A Ballerina, one of his kids.

He and Mom pushed her through life,
To become a Ballet dancer.
He said to me see this clip of her practice,
From the clip, I saw the answer.

His daughter, rehearsing with a male dancer,
On a floor constructed of teak.
The clip didn't focus on her at all,
But, the male dancer's perfect physique.

His words of praise went on and on,
Of his daughter, he is so proud.
The impression I got about what he said,
In my head, was screaming out loud.

It was the male dancer he wished he was,
Not life as an accountant, it's clear.
About this man, I don't understand.
Why not a dance career?

He still could have had a family,
Maybe from them a dancing troupe.
Not vicariously living through his daughter,
And, to himself, being true.

Maybe it was his father,
Who discouraged his young son?
A career in dance to his Dad,
For a boy, just isn't done?

For me, my kids can pursue happiness.
I feel this old saying is right.
"If you work at a job you truly love,
You never work a day in your life."

The ending to this dance story,
I feel validates my point.
Because his daughter has grown sad,
Dance mishaps have damaged her joints.

He told me later, she was quitting.
And, again about life she feels good.
Gone the pressure of doing something disliked,
Being up front with her Dad, as she should.

So, he should learn from his daughter,
And, if a chance to do it over again.
Put on that pair of leotards,
Dance happy through life...The End.