Replying to The Skiers Poem

Patience is a man’s greatest virtue,
or so the saying goes.
A skier must have said it,
For a skier surely knows,
That in this funky sport of ours
Discouragement runs high,
And at times the very best will find
This virtue’s passed them by.
When legs are bruised and throbbing
When every rail can be slayed no more,
Can a skier still have patience
To lap the park once more?
When you’ve lost old tricks you used to stomp,
And progress seems so slow,
Can you still have faith in better days
And not feel sad and low?
Can you admit you’re frightened,
Yet not give in to fears?
Can you conquer pain, frustration,
And often even tears?
When someone else stomps a trick
You’ve tried so long to do,
Can you really feel glad for them?
And not just pity you?
When success seems far away,
Your efforts all in vain,
can you force yourself to wear a smile,
And disregard the pain?
If despite the tribulations,
You can say “I want to learn that kang!”
Maybe someday you’ll discover,
That it’s now your turn to afterbang.