before
the violence of flight
before
his blade
slams into the ice
and liftoff shards pierce
the air
before
every muscle
explodes
straining
thrusting
twisting
with elegantly
brutal force
before
the crushing weight
of gravity
hurls
him back
onto frozen water
the punishing impact
disguised
if all goes well
by
exquisite
grace
before
he knows
whether he