Vintage Snowmobile Races

 

Not a range of high mountains,
not even a little range close at hand.  
It’s where they pushed up snow so cars can park
for the Annual One Lunger Vintage Snowmobile Races,
1980 or older without modifications.

“Bring up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”   

 

On the end, Number 27 in yellow, the youngest racer in the youngest division, just three years old.  He didn’t win, didn’t even place, but he will.

 

Fathers of these young racers are into lap forty or fifty of the hundred lap main event.  Even with their faces covered its easy to see how serious they are.  

 

But they’re not all so serious about winning.  This dad is out for fun and to support his sons who are bound to be winning athletes.   

 

When you have to pass one of these poky fathers and don’t want to wait until he’s out of a turn and into a straight-of-way, you gun your sled, take his kicked-up snow in your face, and power around him.    

What would you say
to visiting me here  
in an imaginary house
the way a poem begins
without foundation     

 

there’s craft to do
before it’s finished
a plan comes first
help from friends
but mostly gumption