pilots (Remove filter)
The Sailors' Homecoming
There is a time
channel mists behind, we sit at anchor for the tide
then in the early hours the Thames pilots board
and - slowly for the mist still lingers close to land -
we move up river reaches, take tugs and find our lock
to gently nudge our way between the barges
until we are tied up again in Albert's dock,
derricks swung and hatches open -
and I am free
Again,...
Thursday 18th October 2018 4:31 pm
Tarac
Tarac
We busted our balls
To get up there
Over a kilometre high
Where the warplanes live
And die a violent death
Meeting their end up above
On towering lonely slopes
As did Lt Stone and Sgt Kurosawa
On the same day seventy six years ago
To the day we went there
As others before had
For we had a job to do
The missing answer to find
To locate the remains of a lost pilot
Named Ston...
Tuesday 13th February 2018 5:27 pm
Wet
This poem is about flying into the city of Cairns in the far north of Queensland, and its lush and dangerous tropicality. This is an exotic part of Australia I know well. Specifically, it recalls my experiences of the wet season, when the rain falls in torrents, crocodiles inhabit the suburbs, and the humidity is like a sauna.
Wet
Tall drips of confusion
bombard flying fox invad...
Friday 24th February 2017 6:30 am
MISSING
MISSING
Hurricane fighter plane dives through clouds towards the ground,
he goes down through the thick grey murk, no one can see him or knows
where he is going.
His wingmen landed some time ago and still there is no trace of him.
Is he gone, his plane so many smashed pieces of metal or burnt ash?
The dogfight was fast and swift with many planes turning and rolling
for as...
Wednesday 1st January 2014 9:14 pm
EMPIRE THREATENDED
EMPIRE THREATENDED
And so the battle lines are drawn as the rebel republic
makes a move on the queen’s own mountain regiment,
for it isn’t pride that is at stake but the very empire…
Forces of battle gather, rebel F-20’s, so sleek and fast,
take on the empire’s F-22’s, stealthy
and almost invincible, the devil’s chariot.
In the coming fight will evil triumph ov...
Wednesday 26th June 2013 6:35 pm
Karma Kill
I wanna see 2 jet fighters go air to air.
Trying to kill each other.
Full range of weapons.
Beyond visual range.
Dodge the missile volley.
Short range heat seekers.
Get past that.
Guns baby...
Knife fight in a fucking phone box.
Helmet mounted sights, off bore sight missiles.
Death...
of pilot and jet.
...
Friday 24th May 2013 9:41 pm
ICE FLY
ICE FLY
How many pilots died and old aircraft lost when they flew over jagged snowy peaks in the remotest corners of the world? Doing a dangerous job knowing the risks and trusting in fate and luck to bring the through. Some never made it, there planes impacting vertical mountain sides in sickening crashes. Bodies lost forever, frozen in the time of death. Icily cold and otherworldly ...
Thursday 23rd February 2012 1:48 am
TRUE
TRUE
Then… Airplane falling wreathed in fire, ruined
bonfire dragged down by gravity to a watery grave.
Broken machine resting on the seabed, silence
reigns in Deaths’ triumph.
Now… Test Pilot Feng Yi and five of his comrades flying
air tests on red China’s brand new J11 fighter.
Saw many old planes in formation, props and je...
Tuesday 17th January 2012 10:29 pm
MISSING
MISSING
Hurricane fighter plane dives through clouds towards the ground,
he goes down through the thick grey murk, no one can see him or knows
where he is going.
His wingmen landed some time ago and still there is no trace of him.
Is he gone, his plane so many smashed pieces of metal or burnt ash?
The dogfight was fast and swift with many planes turning and r...
Tuesday 3rd January 2012 11:50 pm
DESTINY CALLS
DESTINY CALLS
Rising higher and higher the warplane climbs
through the hazy sky, sun reflecting off the distant water
far below through a gap in the clouds.
Missiles hang under delta wings
ready for instant launch when an enemy
is spotted across the distant sky.
An inhuman machine with the looks of a goddess
and the power of a god, this is a thing of ...
Tuesday 13th December 2011 7:28 pm
WAR poem
WAR
“Why is he not burning?”
“He will, he will, the air is too thin up here…”
Wing over broken wing, crushing g-forces stopping escape, the enemy pilot
prayed to his god but it was too late, he was already dead.
Sunlight sparkled on the spinning plane a thousand metres below.
Smaller and smaller, hard to see in the death spiral.
Will he cry for his mother...
Friday 9th September 2011 11:07 pm
MUSTANG poem shortlisted in a comp...
...and will be published in a book called UPLIFTING MOMENTS
MUSTANG
Born out of diverging needs and used in battle, american airframe and english merlin engine creating a machine quite unlike any other. At home six miles above the earth protecting silver lumbering B-17s from murderous nazi fighters, down on the deck filling the krauts full of lead dont tell m...
Tuesday 30th August 2011 12:19 pm
STUKA POEM from the other side
STUKA
Take off is early at dawn; twilight covers our planes in gold sunlight.
We climb so slowly for the sun and its protection on our dangerous flight
to England.
Our deadly load is our bombs, we’ll kill those Tommies just like our
Fuerher says. But are we so bad?
All we do is follow our orders and do our terrible mission.
We reach our target in the morning su...
Thursday 4th August 2011 10:25 pm
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