Hourglass Sky

And wait my turn amidst the wind and snow

Each flake, unique, collects like sands of time

The hourglass sky, each moment calm and slow.

A little scared, I look up at my dad

His deep voice, soothing, says I'll ride with you

We'll go together and I'll keep you safe

He looks at me and smiles and I smile too.

Dad pushes off! We slowly pick up speed

And faster faster toward the crest we go

Then Whoosh! Our sled awakes and out of sight

We fly as we attack this hill, this icy foe.

I'm blasted by the spray, my cheeks are cold

My hands and toes are numb. But then I feel

Dad's arms around me, and they hold me while ...

The hourglass sky, the snow falls faster still.

I see my friends along the side. Hello!

But then they're gone, just images I've passed

And Dad hands me the rope and says, You steer

I take the reins and fear the sled's too fast.

But soon I start to feel I'm in control

Exhilarated, I'm no longer scared

My confidence is growing as we soar

We'll conquer this, the mountain ride we dared!

We reach the foot and as I look around

I feel somehow I've seen this place before

Still going fast, with victory at hand

I smile and think that we'll do this some more.

We reach the end, the sled comes to a stop

I let go of my child, who asks, Again?

Oh yes, my deep voice says. I stroke my beard

And wish this snowy day would never end.

The shadows grow, the hill's now deep in snow

We wonder where the winter daylight went

We're on the sled. We wait our turn, then Whoosh! --

The hourglass sky, each moment quickly spent.