You're flying the 140, br Pull the nose up, up, up br The skin crackles and pops br Higher you raise the nose. br br The frame shudders br How much more can you br Stand the plane on its tail br Until the stall? br br Moments are like hours br Your hands sweat br Tense, you hold your breath, br Why are you doing this? br br A final breath br Hard forward you push the stick br Right rudder, the plane spins br Down you come. br br A perfect recovery. br br **** br You're solo-sailing the O'Day, br Wind's picked up to 30 knots off port, br Strong gust, br Flying the 150 genoa, main fully out. br br Hat blew off long ago, br Salt spray stings your eyes, br Wedged against the bench at 45 degrees, br Arm aches, tiller dancing in your hand. br br If you come about, br You'll demast and sink. br You dropp the genoa. br Maybe reef the main later. br br Sail on! br br ***** br br You're a moth circling the flame br Close, yet closer br The heat draws you near br Can you recover? br br One more time around. br br **** br br The Wasabi inflames br The sharp bite, is it pain? br Your nose is in flame, Eyes tear, br Top of your head's blown clear off. br br You ask for more. br br **** br br Wearing red shoes with four inch heels br Toes crammed into the pointy end, br Arch support, never, br Heels a flopping. br br She dances. br br ***** br br The 'bull' spins, bucks and spins again, br A puppet with head and arm cracking, br Legs splayed wide, holding on for life, br Just a few more seconds. br br Ride On! br br ***** br br It's called the 'Handicap Principle' br You do it to prove br You are strong br In the face of adversity. br br It's evolutionary. br br sbr br Sidi J.