Breckenridge, CO ski vacation

i didn't want to work
i wanted to ski
sliding from the safety of a chair lift
to the dangers of a steeply
snow-covered slope
i found myself caught in the middle
where an evergreen tree was dying in a beetle frenzy
leaning out of a wide sea of greener trees
like an executioner at a wedding
and even in spite of the beautiful view
i caught an edge and lost balance
momentarily lost hope but found myself
climbing that dead tree in spite of my most secret thoughts
or because of them.