Magic Moments

The clear crisp winters’ day

Gives slowly to spring

Snow covered and clean

Footprints lead the way

The ptarmigan sits patiently

They will go, they always do

No paths to follow in the crispness

The cotton veil covers the ground

Hiding the rubble, the grit

A broad paintbrush across canvas

Wiping all clean

Like a blackboard cleared of scribbling

The voice utters the challenge

Is ziss the vay to Macdui?

Heads shaking in disbelief

No map or compass, no paths to follow

Will he make it, will he lose his way

On this vast white wonderland

Standing still, summit surmounted

Cold, calm, clear and crisp

Watching nothing, everything

Soaking in the silence

Rest is taken and

Some words are spoken

Views are consumed

Like soggy sandwiches

Washed down with warm tea

One more look before going back

The crisp snow gives way

Feet breaking through

Stumbles and stutters and curses

Stops and starts

Taking in the panorama

Treasuring the brief rests

Downhill, legs wobble like jelly

The long pathless road ending

The slip and the laughter

The realism of calamity

Possible from the slide

The actuality, the fear

Back to base level again

Boots of, bums on seats

Our moment of enchantment, closer to God

Muscles moaning, magic moments.