I am bad at being in the middle

The car was finally warm

I can see the warm building.

Between the two is frigid air and

icy, snowy, treacherous parking lot.

I know I need to be slow,

deliberately placing each booted foot

so as not to slip and wrench

the balance or fall and break it.

I know this in my bones and sinews.

I find myself walking faster anyway,

step wrong, feel pain of body

flying askew, slow down for a time,

but unconsciously always speed up

unless I think with every step, and that

may be impossible.  It’s dangerous here.