Skiing

Uphill, my feet are heavy and
Ugly with strap-on
Talons. Once landed, I am
Immobile till the graceless
Waddle inched 
Me forward. 
The snow crunch like plastic. The slope
Dips shyly from the sky. Shin bone
Against shoes. Push push.
Hard enough to bruise.
Core tightened, blades parallel
And I’m off. The way 
Knives glide along the marbling,
Breaks water without trying, 
I cannot defy
The tug of the
Fall that grabs my collar
And yanks me
Down.

That frightful speed, that
Terrible speed
Unhinges
Hurtling deadly
Pulling me
Off the ledge.
At mercy of the
Hard mistress
And I the dog
Dragging
My feet,
End of leash.

White trees,
Another whizzing
Star nearly
Crashing, zig
Zagging, beyond
And gone.

Wind bites and I
Blush blue
Wet nose
Forgotten
With ice
Skidding 
Beneath.
Faster faster
Heart leap
Push push
Bruise 
Core and 
Slow down. 

Taste iron and heart
Thumping bloodied
Mouth, unbite 
Lips and 
Stand,
Ears buzzing.
So this

Is skiing.