Thin Ice

skating on thin ice afraid of slipping afraid of it cracking afraid of falling into the icy water beneath i feel the chill i feel the threat i hear the rise and fall of danger whistling in the air around me happy voices clamour with children's screams i have no voice it is too cold outside my breath comes in short, sharp spurts words caught in my throat words that stop themselves forming unlike the puffs of smoke i breathe, dancing in the air my skates are strong but the ice is not i am right in the middle of the rink, no side to clutch on disaster threatening but i keep on going no other choice. regain my balance skating on thin ice hoping it won't crack hoping i wont fall into the icy water beneath.