Para Bailar Otra Vez / I Saw You First

J.P. Stillwater

Para Bailar Otra Vez

 

I did not know you before,

not in school halls,

not in lunch lines,

not in the noise of lockers closing.

 

But on the float…

when the flags were waving —

tu bandera,

mi bandera —

something felt… familiar.

 

You smiled and said,

“Ready?”

 

I said,

“Sí… I think so.”

 

But when we danced,

I did not have to think.

Nuestros pasos sabían.

Like maybe…

we practiced in another life.

 

Your laugh —

like música.

Your hands —

soft but strong,

like you knew I would not drop you.

 

My English is not perfect,

pero mi corazón sí sabe decir —

 

I like how you move

like the song belongs to you.

 

I like how you look at me

like I am not invisible.

 

If Charro Days is suerte,

maybe this was destiny.

 

If you want…

si quieres…

 

Will you dance with me otra vez?

 

 

I Saw You First

 

I saw you before you saw me.

 

Not in the hallway.

Not in class.

Not in all the years we somehow walked

the same floors

at the same time.

 

I saw you on the float —

sun in your hair,

flags behind you

like wings you didn’t know you had.

 

You looked nervous.

But not scared.

Like someone standing at the edge

of something good

and not wanting to ruin it.

 

When they said we would dance together,

I thought,

Okay… let’s see.

 

But when you took my hand,

you didn’t hold too tight.

You didn’t show off.

You listened —

with your feet,

with your shoulders,

with your smile.

 

You danced

like joy was a language

you already spoke.

 

And when you said,

“Sí… I think so,”

I wanted to tell you —

 

You were already ready.

 

Your English doesn’t have to be perfect.

Some things sound better

when they cross borders.

 

Some things mean more

when they are brave enough

to be a little broken

and still beautiful.

 

If Charro Days was luck,

I’m glad it found us.

 

If it was destiny…

I hope it isn’t finished yet.

 

Yes.

 

I will dance with you otra vez.

 

And maybe again

after that.

 

— I’ll be the one

looking for you

when the music starts.