It took me years of training
to move my legs like this,
gliding over the granular
on long feet with curved width,
to make my legs flail left and right,
my upper half stock-still,
balancing and countering
so I won’t take a spill,
I’m going about forty-five,
but I’ve got no steel cage,
just long blades cutting through the white,
so long as it behaves.
Gravity is now my plaything,
as much as I am hers,
cross a mile in two minutes,
a small grace I have earned,
the blur of speed makes its own wind,
downs out the weaker noise,
just a fast bubble around me,
that calmness I enjoy.
Gray mercury says twenty-three,
but I don’t feel a thing,
you really only note the chill
when you have stopped moving,
my weight becomes a shifting ball,
it flows, then it slams home,
at other times it’s zero-G,
a feeling few have known.
Winter-brown trees are flashing past,
guiding the broad, white trail,
they remain still, branches don’t wave,
this time I am the gale,
it’s rare to find a day like this,
where crowds don’t slow you down,
when you can streak across the snow,
flying just off the ground.
Water beneath, rental boat, sky above, grandpa the pilot in controL,
Advancing swiftly, feeling the love, adult and kids' eyes full of euphorA,
Tension in the towline, pulling strong, everyone full of cheerS,
Exultant joy, where we all belong, riding the speeding boaT,
Riding waves, board underfoot, lifejacket strapped, dragged by keeL,
Speeding forth with balance and skill, meandering in the lakE,
Kinetic energy, a constant thrill, increasing speed, more fuN,
In every carve, in every glide, joy glows in eyeS,
In sync with nature, side by side, harmony with naturE,
Navigating waves, created by the boat, feeling maturE,
Gliding on the board, freedom at hand, thrill of lifetimeS.
S kiing on this snowy peak over the icy stretches is a real tes T,
K eeping legs on the skis securely firm and standing hig H.
I tching to experience the adventure of my endeavou R,
I go down hills in rising vigor, never losing grip, shouting ‘h I’
N ot shaken by the steep landing with wind giving me a chilling fee L,
G aily I speed down the icy slopes in triumphant thril L.
The sun beats brighter than it did last month,
with mercury up in the low forties,
my time is running out for winter fun,
March is such a bittersweet time to ski.
Brown stains in the snow still left by the base,
bare spots and granite poke out here and there,
the white ribbons that once streamed with cool grace
have now taken on a more mottled air.
Wet snow is heavy, clumps of soft cement,
pushing it ’round brings fire to my legs,
time for the sort powder had came and went,
and all that’s left is the half-melted dregs.
For us skiers it’s just a sad decay,
then nine months of warmth until we can play...
It comes from the sky, white, powdery gifts,
upsets may, but gets us vibrating,
we call in from work, get cover for shifts,
no way we are not participating.
The lots are plowed roughly, but well enough,
we see the white streak of trails on the hill,
blast through the snow, there is never too much,
use rock skis so the good ones don’t get killed.
A run that’s boring exhausts us today,
sweating in the air that makes water freeze,
the soft, springy stuff on which we now play
lets us bound joyously through silent trees;
when it doesn’t come, the snow we must make,
but that’s hamburger, the real stuff is steak!
Two rust-red tubes running up the hillside,
by the wood's edge, hidden just in the trees,
they have water, and compressed air inside,
pumped up the mountain to hydrants steely.
Hoses conduct it to tall silver tubes,
snow guns that spray the white stuff on the trail,
coating brown grasses, hiding them from view,
building tall piles that some call snow-whales.
The groomers will come and flatten them out,
leave corduroy patterns on the long slope,
the skiers will come and race on a cloud,
they don’t like to wait when winter is slow.
One must be consistent in a business,
take five Mother Nature, we have got this.
The Dachshund’s a marvel on skis
Little legs that stop short of its knees
It can schuss like a pro
Making furrows in snow
(Though its privates are given to freeze)
Sitting astride a frozen mountainside,
eighty others waiting their turn to go,
on the slope blue and red gates a path scribe,
a man says, “racer ready;” so they know.
An hour passed, now it’s my turn to ski,
explode out of the gate with a kick-start,
frozen ruts are what I find greeting me,
muscles press down to absorb impacts hard,
frantic minute, a forward-moving fight,
the scrape of ice, gates flying past my face,
come faster still, can barely stay upright,
you win or fall, there is no second place.
Cross the line, frustration at the results,
tenths of a second leaves you in the cold.
What Marcia can do with great ease
is travel forever on skis.
She skis between trees.
For her it’s a breeze.
Hey, look at her go, holy Gees!
Skiing downhill, exhilarating explosion of snow.
Knocks of life, this snowy week, worth the thrill ride.
I am on highs and lows - mountain peaks and valleys. Oh!
Introspection? Avoiding pines - in brightness I hide.
Nothingness of thought, neverland of Pan, fairy-glow.
Grandiosity of expanse - velocity of man’s sweet ride.
1/24/2023
Skiing Contest
Sponsor:Julia Ward
Skis sliding, one snowy week, on a snow covered hill.
Keeping your balance to avoid stumble.
Instilling safety, so not to slip against your will.
Insuring cautious conduct in order not to fumble.
Noting the dangers all around you.
Galloping high against the snow.
January 25, 2023
Skiing Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Julia Ward
Sliding down snow-covered hills
keeping the glide going gives thrills
in sweet awareness enjoy the grand views
in concert with exercise, and inspiring muse
nothing better than an escape- just let go of fear
great rush of wildness and freedom on a day crystal clear
_____________________
January 23, 2023
Poetry/Acrostic/Skiing
Copyright Protected, ID 01-1519-677-23
All Rights Reserved, 2023, Constance La France
Written for the Standard contest, Skiing
sponsor, Julia Ward, Judged 01/25/2023
SKIING
Skiing shows special skill to move on slope of snow
Kind of challenging sport to glide on skis.
Is a fun on relaxation and recreation.
It releases flow of endorphins easing tension .
Nordic and Alpine are main types of skiing.
Great cardiovascular exercise.
01/23/23
Skiing
Contest by Julia Ward
Settled toward skiing championship gain
Keeps him prevailing over practice pain
Insistent to ski well during snowy week
Inspiring fellow skiers who are weak
Nourished as sporty skier midst faith* nurture
Goal is gold in Paralympics’ venture.
*Mark 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
January 23, 2023
Skiing
Sing along the snow
Kindly with my skis
Ice in the roads
Icing on the roads is whiter
Not a single is colored
Gone are the days of summers
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