Author: Mark Hagar
It Feels Like A Sledding Day
As I awoke that morning
And felt the cold winters’ chill
I glanced outside, my eyes open wide
Discovering the white of the sill
For the sky was blue and cloudless
As the wind began to blow
And when it did, I felt like a kid
Eying that luxurious blanket of snow
So up from my bed I arose
And dressing without further delay
Thinking of fun, that had not yet begun
Shouting, “It feels like a sledding day”
I grabbed my coat, and I grabbed my scarf
My mittens, boots and hat
And rushed to the shed, to find my sled
Trying not to trip over the cat
Now my sled is by no means fancy
Being made of plywood and nails
But oh beware; it will give you a scare
For down the slopes she sails
For the secret of this gentle beauty
Is what she’s been mounted too
Upon downhill skis, that will fly past trees
You know that she’ll guide you true
So out to the slopes I set forth
With my trusty old sled in tow
Past snow frosted hills, and ancient mills
Feeling that wonderful sledding glow
The hill was quite crowded that day
With children and adults all around
But I didn’t care, I shouted “Beware”
As we headed for the highest of ground
At the top of that mighty white hill
With the sled tucked under my arm
I jumped with a start, feeling quite smart
Gathering up speed with alarm
I pounced on my faithful old friend
As we crested the edge of the hill
The crowd gave way, as if in dismay
Unaware of the sled’s hidden skill
We roared down the slopes with great speed
Passing all in our feverish descent
The crowd was in shock, trying to take stock
Not yet grasping this wondrous event
The wind tore the hat from my head
While a snowstorm soared out from the skis
And the children all knew, this sled really flew
Shouting, “Dad can I have one PLEASE”
When we came to the halfway point
And the jump built into the hillside
I steered my friend right, and we soon took flight
Taking in our surroundings in stride
Now everyone stood still and stared
As we slammed to the ground far below
But I knew I could hear, a great rousing cheer
As we cut a new path through the snow
No one had ever quite traveled this far
As we slid to a fence at the end
And slipped underneath, while clenching my teeth
Hoping not to scrape me or my friend
At last we slowed to a stop
Near the cars all lined up in the lot
I got off my sled, and looked out ahead
To a parent and wild-eyed young tot
For he wanted my sled quite dearly
Having never witnessed the like
So he cried to his mom, who seemed rather calm
As she said “No, it’s home for us, Mike”
Well the people were still looking down
As I stowed my old friend away
So I yelled out in glee, as if in decree
“Hey, it feels like a sledding day”
—
Mark Hagar
(from 02/25/2001)
ps. I built the sled, it’s real and it’s fast…. 😉
