The Lesson

The Lesson


Crystal air clouds my breath, tears my eyes,
and the cold wind nips at my nose.
I stand on a hill side and ponder -
do these signs portend my demise?

Fresh from my lesson, I top the rise
and all I can see is the snow's
mirror-like glare. I start to wander
ignoring the signs that advise.

I pick up speed – gravity's surprise –
as I take up a snow-plow pose.
I head hither but end up yonder
as onlookers laugh at my cries.

From glacis to steep, the changing size
of the slope scares me as it grows.
I pray for a fast first responder;
I silently say my good-byes.

Then it hits me – a plan I devise
and I sit, then lay in repose.
I stop as I flop like a condor.
In the future, I will be wise.

Crystal air clouds my breath, tears my eyes,
and the cold wind nips at my nose.
I stand on a hill side and ponder -
do these signs portend my demise ...


Notes
An entry for day five of "Invalid Item" 
Prompt: Image
Form: The La'Tuin consists of 4-line stanzas with an 'abca, abca' rhyme scheme that is consistent throughout each stanza. Stanzas 2, 3 etc. must all follow the same rhyme sounds as the first stanza with the first stanza being repeated again at the end of the piece. It contains a minimum of 4 stanzas, with no maximum length limit. A strict syllable count of 9/8/9/8 is required per stanza.

glacis – a gentle slope

For those ignorant (like me), the "signs" refer to a green circle for beginner's slopes, a blue square intermediate and a black diamond expert, and a double black diamond for suicide.

Thank you for reading my words. Please, take a moment and leave a comment – your reaction, criticisms, thoughts, yes – even praise – all are equally welcome.

Ken