Off-Piste

by Michael Dylan Welch and Alan S. Bridges

First published in Haiku Canada Review 13:1, February 2019, page 57. Originally written in January of 2018. Some day we hope to go skiing together.

fresh powder—

my skis covered

on the ski rack Michael

the mountain unfolds

on a trail map Alan

first tracks

through old moguls . . .

bluing sky Michael

off-piste—

I work my way through

Engelmann spruce Alan

cannon fire

in the avalanche chute Michael

hanging on the wall

of the base lodge . . .

my first skis Alan