The Thickness of Ice

Here's the poem by Liz Loxley.

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The Thickness of Ice

At first we’ll meet as friends

(Though secretly I’ll be hoping

we’ll become much more

and hoping that you’re hoping that too) 

At first we’ll be like skaters

testing the thickness of ice

(with each meeting

we’ll skate nearer the centre of the lake) 

Later we will become less anxious to impress

less eager than the skater going for gold.

(The triple jumps and spins

will become an old routine:

we will become content with simple movements). 

Later we will not notice the steady thaw,

the creeping cracks will be ignored.

(And one day when the ice gives way

we will scramble to save ourselves

and not each other.)

Last of all we’ll meet as acquaintances

(though secretly we’ll be enemies,

hurt by missing out on a medal,

jealous of new partners).

Last of all we’ll be like children

Having learnt the thinness of ice,

(Though secretly perhaps we may be hoping,

to break the ice between us

and maybe meet again as friends.)