2.5.12

Image: Boarding the plane for the first stage to Memphis on the flight home.

 

157) Breakfast almost over and so is my roam

This afternoon I catch the plane home

Last night Thom gave me a newspaper clipping

I think the reporters mind was slipping

I couldn’t believe, instead of Trev he’d called me Treve

Then with total aplomb, the picture of Bob was actually Thom

And it could have been worse had they not put I was a writer of light verse

Still it was with the best intention and another poetry event gets a mention

 

158) The sky was blue the trees a verdant green

Not a patch of grey to be seen

The day now coming alive congestion on Interstate 35

Breakfast a hard act to foller, free coffee and a taco for only one dollar

Handed the cellphone to Thom last night, made sure everything was alright

The pirate outfit has also been given away

To some child who’ll use it for play

But will they whether they be lass or lad

Know how to say “avast ye swabs and arr Jim Lad?”

 

159) I drove down for a last look at Austin town

On the way called at the library dedicated to LBJ

Put in a bit more gas, only two bucks,

Don’t wanna run out an’ say “aw shucks”

By the river a last look round before I’m homeward bound

The river where to my delight I snapped a swan beginning its flight

But no time to dwell so back to the motel

Loaded the car then I was able

To call at Captain Barry’s where they got catfish on the table

Tabasco sauce not for wimps tasted great on the shrimps

Diet coke didn’t make me choke

Just to pay then away

No rushin’, no dashin’

Cos the low fuel light on the dashboard was flashin’

To the rental firm nice an’ steady, dropped it off everything ready

Over 4,700 miles done an’ it sure has been fun

Nothing to fear through customs I’m clear

A chat and a laugh with the staff

Through x-ray then away

Lookin’ forward to comin’ again

But for now time to reflect waitin’ for the homeward plane

 

160) Memphis flight luggage being stored

I’m waitin’ for the call to board

Got all three boarding passes in my hand things are goin’ real grand

An’ there’ll be no time for stallin’when the boardin’ zones they’re callin’

 

161) Plane boarded seat found, take off and homeward bound

Austin disappearing below into the sky we go

Bright sunlight we’re at the right height

Looking down I can say

“It’s the first time I’ve seen Texas from a plane during the day”

Lookin’ through the cloud an’ feelin’ proud

What I’ve done, where I’ve been

Part of the Texas poetry scene

 

162) Now in the land of the Delta Blues, Terminal B watchin’ the queues

All knowin’ where they’re goin’

Call to board queue movin’ slow, I’m waitin’ for my turn to go

But for now I’ll take the time to sit an’ finish off this rhyme

163) The rhyme was writ I thought that’s it

Pencil and book stored, time to get on board

No one at the side of me, probably for the best

No squabblin’ over the middle arm rest

An’ when in the air we lift, no one’ll have to shift

When I say so cos’ I need to go

Now we’re reversing son we’ll be in the air

Across America and beyond to our homes across the pond

Chart showin’ the flight path we’re goin’

Now we’re movin’ towards the runway, time to put my stuff away

 

164) Leaving Memphis in the setting sun, second flight now begun

Looking down on a cloud of grey, goodbye for now USA

Clouds cleared the views grand, a river forks an’ meanders across the land

Through forests, towns and plains swollen by early spring rains

And inflight entertainment is for now in vain,

Cos’ I’ve busted my earphones yet again

But there’s one thing I can tell, good job I ain’t busted my britches as well

 

165) Earphones replaced as one would expect

I can watch the film, listen to music or just reflect

On when I arrived on April 3rd ready for poetry and the spoken word

From the plane I did alight on that warm Texas night

A motel to temporary dwell

While I write a poetry score then go on and write some more

At Kerville poems about the blues, and other subjects I could use

There would be many more on my Texas poetry tour

Travel many miles recite in various styles

Whatever I did I seemed to be on a winner

Now the hostess is here so I’ll break for dinner

 

166) It’s been a blast as usual gone to fast

The people were delighted as we recited

Others we didn’t know got up and had a go

New poets discovered, new talent uncovered

On Shakespeare a different slant, slam events like a rant

And either side of each Fest, a chance to see Texas at its best

Now I’m flying home through the night

Thinking ‘yes it really has been alright’.

 

167) Through the night going, screen showing

How far and where we are

Over Canada and we also know how far we’ve gor to go

So easy to understand, even what time we land

So at the end of this rhyme I’ll set my watch to European time

And also tell, may change the date as well

 

168) Looking out of the window I find, we may have left Canada behind

Looks like ice well below, mass bergs and floe

But now there’s lights so maybe we’ve not come as far

As I first thought, and now wonder where we are

For a while there was another plane we were on its right

Then we banked left and now it’s out of sight

So we fly on our way, to Amsterdam just over 5 hours away

 

3.5.12 - 169) Where we were we’re now well beyond

And ready for sunrise over the pond

Heralding the break of a new day

Amsterdam now less than four hours away

 

170) Sun risen a new day once more above a cloud like forest of grey

Day now getting clearer, destination getting nearer

Yet the day I flew the other way, seems only like yesterday

But like as such I’ve done so much

Seen the hot spring at the Rio Grande

The Gulf Coast and sculptures in the sand

Photographed wildlife, fauna and flora

Even the setting sun giving of its aura

People, places, wide open spaces

Birds at a wildlife park two towns lit up in the dark

All this and more and read poetry that’s what I cam here for.

 

171) A book of last years poems I gave away

To a woman passenger yesterday

We chatted pleasantly to pass the time

I discovered she too was interested in rhyme

I showed her the book and let her have a look

Now slightly battered, its content still mattered

And the coffee stain like a scar

Occupational hazard when reading in a coffee bar

She like the poems inside and the images down the side

Each what they seem representing the poems theme

To give her the book was a pleasure

A gift from a fellow traveller she may well treasure

And something else I’ll tell, we swapped e mails as well

So now if she wants to read some more

She’s only to ask for my latest poetry score

 

172) “Please fasten your seatbelts” the voice said plain

We were going through turbulence again

The only noise what the engines were making

The main body slightly shaking

Getting a bit bumpy, no need to be jumpy

One of natures little tricks and I’m ready for a caffeine fix

 

173) Dark mountains standing proud, like islands on a sea of cloud

Only the tops they show the rest hidden in the valley below

Formed by natures rages over millions of years and ice ages

If they could talk what could they tell of the creature that on them did dwell

Snow on the top then melts to flow into the rives in the valleys below

Or no route for the water to take it forms the haven of a mountain lake

Ecology to preserve, becoming a natural nature reserve

Our flight carried on, the mountains were gone

But soon they’ll be found by another flight homeward bound

 

174) Amsterdam my final flight not quite on song

A boarding pas again was wrong

The changed the departure gate then told us the plane was late

Now an extra 20 minute wait

Tell the taxi guy what’s going on, before the plane I step upon

But the only gate I want to go through is mine outside number 92

 

175) This is it the final flight, airborne at last

The tour’s been a real blast

Writing, reciting, people delighting

Sight seeing, photo taking, new friend making

Poetry Feast recited good and clear, they want me back again next year

But for now I’ll just end my roam

When I get back to “Home Sweet Home”