Amelia’s First Ski Run

Eaglecrest, Juneau, February 24, 1989

Amelia, space-age girl

at top of Sourdough

makes her run with Eagle Grandpa Dick,

Raven girl, balancing on space,

gliding on air

in Tlingit colors:

black pants, turquoise jacket,

yellow shoulder patches,

black hair like feathers

clinging to her head,

face the color of red cedar.

Once in a while

I could even see space

between her legs and skis.

Diving downhill

she continues

side to side, slalom style,

following Grandpa’s red boots.

Then the two figures swoop around the

corner,

swishing downhill,

shooshing home.

Source: Life Woven with Song (University of Arizona Press, 2000)