Let’s say the skier
is out of control
as she careens down the hill
and let’s say that she sees
the tall red willows
from a distance
and thinks to herself
I am not going to hit
those willows.
Tilted and lurching
she is too loudly laughing,
afraid of the speed
and equally thrilled with it,
gripped with conviction
that she is not is not
is not going to hit
those willows, those red willows,
those tall red willows
those willows the only
thing that she sees
as she skis right into
the tallest of the tall red willows
at the base of the hill
those willows
she gave
all her attention.