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.