The Willow Wing

A grassy hill near Berlin on a windy spring afternoon, white clouds and bright side light, resting on the slope a hang glider six metres seventy wide, a broad wing of faintly translucent cream cotton over many thin brown willow ribs spreading from the centre, the trailing edge cut in shallow curves between the ribs, a round wooden ring at the centre, thin bracing wires to a short mast above it, a cruciform tail of two cream fabric surfaces on wooden battens, a man in a white knitted sweater and grey knee breeches seen from directly behind, face turned fully away, lifting the glider by its ring.