the frozen river and i fell through
i didn’t wait long enough
for the frost to bite the winter
my blades sharpened to a knife
i skated to early before the edges dulled
and carved a perfect circle
as the loop above my head dangled
begging to push off
the bitter and the cold
i trembled exhausted fighting to exist
in the collapse, under the weight
i hanged the skates across my shoulder
the arctic winds blessed my heart
my face torn by the sleet
it didn’t matter
my skin needed to feel the ice
the punishment was a welcoming relief
because time skates by
and i arrived a little farther and away

© jacob greb — from lovers’ tiff: a ballad