Prince of the Skies

Strange how he arrived at the truth
before he went for the meaning
sending him deep into the night
along his own sandy beach with a quiff
of wind, sand and stars.

When young he had read the man
in between hasty landings and take offs.
Has his voice finally risen from the waters
lifting him up, little prince of the skies?

He’d prepare himself for the true meaning
that is invisible to the eyes
to understand what lay at the bottom of the sea.
Had he not killed 28 of those allied planes
and only now learnt of his super kill?

And here he is, 64 years late, wanting to know
about cause and effect that play on the heart
while the ghostly creator still shivers
seaweed-entangled, crustacean-encrusted

He is walking slowly back, feeling the heat
and the buzz of the old Kameraden
in the putrid sweat of loneliness.
His old legs threaten to give up
the nearer he gets to the hull of his fighter plane.