rachael richmond - unbalanced

leg muscles taut as iron,
arms splayed out,
hardly moving...
back rigid
temperature frigid.

inch forward...
concentration intense
buttocks clench
move a little faster
i must master
this....

eyes down
watch my feet
ankles slowly pass each other
then meet again

arms raising
moving quicker
feeling slicker
one leg shoots
out from my side
the other glides
across the ice
and down i go
flat on my back
smack!

feel an old fool
when little tom
glides gracefully like a swan
up to me, turns his skates
makes the ice vibrate
and says...
'need a hand'

rachael richmond

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/unbalanced-2/