Image: Manchester Airport used this year as last year I was sent out from there due to LBA cancellation, much quicker and I arrived in Austin in daylight, the first poem in this section was written there too..

 

04/04/2015 - 13) Journey here ok, not too taxin'

Now sittin' relaxin'

Eatery sought, coffee bought

For breakfast waitin' this poem I'm creatin'

Todays' first score hopefully I'll write many more

Now my breakfast's come an' this poem is done.

 

14) Breakfast over now it's wait, untill called to the departure gate

In the lounge poeple coming and going, tooing and froing

Yet there's always conjestion, which begs the question

Why do some people make an art

Of standing talking in the narrowest part

Still, why worry, nothing I can do except wait to be called to Gate 142

 

15) Gate open seat found, soon we'll be in flight, Southward bound

To Heathrow we'll head, family still at home in bed

But the first part of my tour I'll share, I'll give 'em a ring when I get there

 

16) In flight, off the ground, refreshments brought round

Veggie option or meat, went down a treat

Enjoy the flight, sit and think, enjoy a drink

Engine noise changes , no need to groan

Captain says with good intent, "we've bagan our descent".

Above the clouds sky clear, carpet of cloud getting near

Slowly dropping, ears popping, no stopping

Banking lefy, banking right, journeys end in sight

Just heard the captain say "Heathrow 10 minutes away".

No more standing, prepare for landing, Soon past on the ground at last

The plane'll patk an' we'll disembark

We can tell the flights gone well,

An it'll be more of a delight, when I'm cleared for my second flight.

 

17) Heathrow waiting and like as not, it's like waiting to be shot

Crosswords and puzzles help pass the time 

So does composing my journey in rhyme

Departure board flashes up and I can see, we're leaving from Concourse B

Where we we again sit and wait, to find out our departure gate

The board then said B42 and we went hence and waited for boarding to commence

Club, VIP and First Class forward were bade 

While the rest of us waited for an announcement to be made

Have you time for a survey asked a bloke

I said "yes" after which we shared a joke

As I took the time to read him some of my work in rhyme

Then on the plane I was bound, my seat quickly found

All aboard, safety checks and we're away

But would sooon learn, it's take off in turn

Following 6 others in the queue 

Copuntdown 7-6-5-4-3-2-1, we're off our journeys begun

 

A haiku written entirely on inspiration and I often refer to Austin as my Spiritual Poetry home

18) Atop white clouds 

Werstward flying heading 

To my spiritual home

 

19) Through the clouds we soar

I'm listening to Bach's Concerto for Oboe and Obor d'amore

Concertos A, G and D all in movements of three

Music in the baroque style, gonna listen a while 

Lookin' at the flight plan I find, we've left England behind

Now we're crossing the Irish Sea 

The sky couldn'r be clearer, each passing mile bringing Austin nearer.

 

20) Just under 8 hours away I had to smile 

At a little lad who asked "are we nearly there dad?"

Seems kids everywhere are the same, now he's happilly playing a game 

An there's a flight plan on my screen, so where we are can be seeen

An one thing that'll bring me delight, is when Austin Airport comes in sight.

 

21) Feeling tirednes over him creep, the little lad went to sleep

Contented little chap, head on dads lap

Dad quietly reading, our flight plan leading

Over Canada below, sky still clear, bringin' Austin ever near.

 

22) Now over mainland USA, Austin over one and a half hours away

Final meal before we land, that'll be really grand

The long journey it will have been worth 

When I'm once more on that good Texas earth

An' my first night of rhymr, hopin' I get to Bahai on time

Bahai: A spiritual centre in Austin where they hold the Expressions open mic on the first Saturday of every month it was my my first live gig of this tour I was one of the featured poets..

 

23) Wheels down, ingine slowing, downward going

Inward bound through the clouds I can see the ground

Been a long flight, so far it's gone alright

land and park, then disembark

Customs to clear, then get my gear

Collect my car and go hence, and let my 2014 poetry tour commence.