skater

i skate, a skater on thin ice

twirling over the thinnest spots

each turn is a chant:

'"that was then, this is now"

swish, lean, turn

"that was then, this is now'

turning to review the path left in my wake

the frozen terrain reveals

complicated patterns of the choices that i have made

passes made more than once

over dangerous patches, worn down

from one too many grooves

created by forcing, flight-full moves

when graceful gliding had been due

now I must move forward

testing safer ice

once, back then, i would push the limits

risking my weight on this melting ice

to get it right 'this time'

yet continuing on

despite the groaning complaints

of the ice beneath the crunch of my skates

but that was then, this is now

swish, lean, turn

"that was then, this is now"

glide

smoother, sturdier ice awaits

a routine fit and altered for now

choices to be made

new patterns to emerge