A Turbulent Flight (Poetry Monthly)

By luigi_pagano

Wed, 17 May 2017
  • 1160 reads
2 comments
 
With a roar, a thrust
and increasing speed
the plane leaves behind
the Mancunian runway.
 
The wheels retract with a clank
inside the jet’s body
as it climbs steeply
to be met by a bank
of dense grey clouds.
 
As the craft surges upwards,
there is some turbulence
and the pilot advises
not to unbuckle the seat belt.
 
The stewardesses
in their pristine
aquamarine uniforms
smile reassuringly.
 
Then suddenly the ‘747’
emerges from the stratus
into a deep blue sky
and brilliant sunshine
and you now feel
that everything is fine.
 
Your companion
is blue-blooded
and she’s pretty;
with eyes as azure
as the Melissani Lake
in Kefallinia.
 
You met at a party
and, out of the blue,
she invited you
to join her at her villa
in that Greek Island.
 
Her intention was
that you’d meet her father
to ask him for her hand.
You told her
you wished to remain
just good friends
 
and talked until
you were blue in the face
but you could not
change her mind.
Your only solution
was to hoist the blue peter. *
 
© Luigi Pagano 2017
 
* To leave or prepare to leave. This nautical term refers to the blue and white flag that sailors would hoist before departing from a location.
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Comments

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

My renewed thanks to skinner_jennifr whose favourable comment in my previous version was lost when I edited and re-titled the poem.
Sorry about that Jenny.

Luigi xx

 

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

That's okay Luigi,

No problem.

Jenny. xx