stranger danger?

glitterglide

     

sleek silver shines beneath, red-topped white walls surround

Hip hop throbs the air as gleaming gloss gets cut by steely blades

Thin lines and snowy puffs of grated ice trace-track each sliding stride

Each action leaves a signature, its lovely satin scar . . . to mark, not mar

The cold hard silken surface, smoothed patiently by old zamboni man

Prepped to beautifully submit to curving cuts from one and all

At first the surface sliding scares! and I must shamefaced cling

Grip hard with both gloved hands, embrace the sturdy wall

Then let the right hand glide on redtop upper ledge as I move slow

Prepared to grip if grip I must, wall saying it's okay for me to go

awkward slip-slide still but forward, limbs struggle-striding out

Counterclockwise round the glister oval rink as lurching music plays

Minutes pass, thumpy tunes bounce on, vocals soar and growl

magic body learns, recaptures wisdom the troubled brain still lacks

At forty minutes, skating free of wall! swifter now, smooth pulsing to the beat

Not choosing to be bold, keep finding willful hands have quit the ledge!

Now left and right in icy air, both out there moving free

Though each time brain wakes up, takes note, terror touch at once ensues,

must slow down fast, stop myself, caress the waiting wall once more.

Still feels good, learning-yearning, recapture of the flesh from long ago.