no fanfare here

no balcony of bedecked

royals a'head a frenzied

avenue of flags,

no cheering heads, just

her distant growl

and grumble overhead,

across my friendly city

bomb doors closed, 

just and old girl going

home once more,

job done, and I

spellbound, and all

too late realize

I should have stood

to give salute

© Graham R Sherwood 05/25