Grey sleigh tracks cut snow

Pink from the slanted light

Of a distant  anemic sun

She follows behind my track

Whale bone runners  driftwood

Frame dressed in seal skin

The dogs are earnest recently 

Fed her sleigh Lighter for the 

loss of frozen char

She draws abreast the dogs

Snarl a challenge to my team

The sleighs now pair

Her eyes speak fear 

Will we be in time

The whip crack shouts

The teams react

In frenzy now

Their last reserve

The lead was closed

Two days ago outward

Bound on the mercy run

Mother and child my

Sleighs precious cargo

The village still miles away

The lead between us and them

The wind it’s tool to open or close

We race against its mindless force

the ice ridge is beneath us now

We flyover it’s sharpened top

Airborne dropping still driven on

The dreaded blue of an open lead

Has become the the ridge we

Launched and won.

She smiles and waves as

The sleighs track fast 

The nurse my granddaughter 

Her charges safe within my sleigh