| Subject: Starting From Scratch |
Author:
05-20-99
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Date Posted: 22:42:13 10/20/99 Wed
Starting From Scratch
Her plane touches down perfectly
and there is a great application of brakes.
Smoke trails into the sky,
and she rides to a rumbling halt.
Remain seated
until the lights go off.
She comes to rest as the plane relaxes
into the stillness of hydraulic sound, takes one
last sucking breath. The staff prepares a smile
to accompany her next opportunity.
Open overhead compartments carefully;
bags may have shifted during flight.
She is prepared to wait with a heavy valise.
Single file comes with long practice,
since some lessons are better, learned.
She moves awkwardly down the aisle.
Watch your step.
Thank you for flying with us.
The passengers disperse; they each have
their own tunnels waiting. She knows the way
but walking is difficult, and she must stoop,
then kneel. She is bothered by the closeness.
The world contracts, suddenly.
She moves without moving.
The sun is hot behind a man's silhouette.
"One more push," he says, but not to her.
Suddenly she is cold, roughly handled;
a rubber tube intrudes into her nose.
She shivers and opens her mouth
to breathe. She feels like falling.
The valise is gone and nothing is left
but its shadow clasped in a foreign set of arms.
She knows that she cannot unpack now
but hopes the substance of baggage remains.
It was full to bursting with intended work,
and every note she ever took, inside.
~JB~
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