Skateaway

Skateaway

written by: Nigel de Costa

 

You’re gone, gone, gone,
once behind – now in front.
Twirling, swirling, turning
twisting in, sideslipping out
slicing the ice and
slip-sliding away.
Each spin, each flip,
a half pirouette.
Where now?
Owl-necked, I glimpse you
between bobbing hatted heads
again, again, again.
Splitting the spaces
vacated by chains of children
hand-in-hand-in-hand.
Your skates a whoosh,
as you slide by into a turn
and glide gently back
– a perfect lutz –
toes out, arms stretched,
fingers reaching out to me,
and a smile that melts the rink.