Kissing the Clouds ©
On the subject of coming home
Nat Hall
Sandwick, Shetland
2004
To each new year I'm going home -
my journey starts
on dawn tarmac;
"Fasten your belt"
MRS - LGW - EDI,
blue boarding cards
race like catapulted through
the sky.
To each landing
we kiss the clouds -
our descent starts in blue thin air.
"Fasten your belt"
tin coffee jugs
rattle inside the fuselage;
all is quiet for ten minutes
through fluffy world.
For the last leg, I watch the jets
from the long corridor
of glass.
EDI,
my gateway
to Northern Lights (!)
I pray the sky our turbo prop
will kiss the clouds and scotch tarmac;
turbulent dream.
Familiar faces in the lounge,
ground hostess calls,
we're going home!
"Fasten your belt",
I wave goodbye
to red Forth Bridge, back to
the clouds.
Cherie pours tea above
the sea; we're flying
low east past Fair Isle - within
minutes Sumburgh Head
lighthouse in sight...
I shed a tear,
our cats await behind
the door.
|
