Image: My last view of Austin, my spiritual poetry home

 

28.04.14: 142) Been quite a tour and more

Done things I’ve never done before

Capturing in rhyme places seen for the first time

It’s been a blast, seems to have gone real fast

Over 3800 miles done,

Between the rising and setting of the sun

Visited three new states, between poetry dates

New things to do found, broken new ground

Thinkin’ about new friends, I’ve made as my tour ends

Who didn’t want me to go, they upped and told me so

An’ made it plain, I’ll always be welcome back again.

 

143) I left my Motel 6 this morning

The new one that’s nicely positioned

An’ like the first two times I stopped there

I still didn’t get propositioned

 

144) Austin airport, through customs I’m clear

Waitin’ for the plane, to get me outa here

Staff a delight, so efficient an’ polite

Outside it’s a sunny clime, an’ the board says plane on time

So for now its sit, write an’ wait, till I’m called to the departure gate

An’ begin the last part of my roam, the first flight on my journey home.

 

145) Stopped for breakfast on the way

To the airport, keep the hunger pangs at bay

Two eggs an’ ham, hash browns, toast an’ jam

Previous advice heeded, to go box may be needed

But that idea came to naught

I ate it all, must have been hungrier than I thought.

 

146) Hydration station at the airport seen

What they call a fresh water machine

Refill your bottles for free, it’s cool an’ nice

An’ it sure beats payin’ the airport price

 

147) Watchin’ the planes land,

Then take off maybe for some foreign land

But there’s really only one plane I want to see

That’s the plane that’s comin’ for me.

 

148) Plane parked, passengers disembarked

Luggage to unload, ours to be stowed

We wait, at the departure gate

Once it’s fueled an’ provisions stored

Then it’ll be time for us to board

 

149) Boardin’ instructions lauded, soon we’re boarded

Door closed an’ we’re ready

For safety instructions, then taxi nice an’ steady

To the runway then let the engines roar

An’ I’ll be homeward bound once more

 

150) Blue ceiling stretches

Over white uneven carpet

Us between

 

151) At Minneapolis first flight landed alright

At Concourse C, second flight at Concourse G

Was I in a fix, it was gate G

Things looked foreboding as they were already loading

Announced over the air, I had to get there

Which way it was I didn’t know, or how far I had to go

It was a case of find or get left behind

Not be late for flight 258

A member of staff with an electric car, said “it’s not that far3

“Hop in” so we went go for a spin

Driving with care to get me there

My lucky day, same for a passenger we picked up on the way

Who got off a few gates before me, on his plane he’s soon be

Then me but in my way was a crowd, so I spoke out loud

Sayin’ “man in a hurry comin’ through”

When they parted I said “thank you”.

Soon I was boarded, now I’m in flight

Amsterdam at break of day, just over six hours away

For a moment it looked a bit dicey

 

29.04.14: 152) Still in flight, outside its night

Headin’ East towards break of day, three hours away

Hope to watch the rising sun, journey nearly done.

 

153) Horizon brightens slowly

Red hues showing

Neath blue canopy.

 

154) Engine speed slowing, downwards we’re going

Amsterdam below, one more flight to go

Engines hushed, don’t want this bit rushed

Just land safe an’ sound on the ground

 

155) Clouds like a sea of grey, sun rising to start the day

Through the sea of clouds we go, see what the weathers like below

Plane slightly rocking, turbulence not to shocking

Through the clouds we go lower, engines now running slower

It’s fog below as downward we go

Then were’ through and on the ground, to the terminal bound

It’s foggy, easy to tell

I just hope it isn’t foggy at LBA* as well

*LBA Leeds Bradford Airport

 

156) Customs check went alright, now waiting for my final flight

Just want to get on the plane, fly over the channel and home again

 

The following poem was written as events unfolded

157) Amsterdam to LBA we’re on our way

Everything on track just had coffee and a snack

Plane slowing then descending I’m thinking it’ll be grand when we land

Get my bag collected, the taxi’s expected

To get me home at the end of another roam

New ground broken, new poems spoken

New adventures had, for this travelling lad

Now we’re slowing more, inward bound

Just heard the visibility’s bad, we’ve to circle round

How long we don’t know, perhaps forty minutes or so

Not a great ending to my tour I’m beginning to feel downhearted

Cos’ it seems to be finishing, somewhat in the same way it started

And things aren’t going to go any faster

I’ve just heard were circling Robin Hood Airport Doncaster

They’ve told us the fuel is fine, enough to last while half past nine

Then as I understand, they’ll make a decision about where we land

Now we’ve been told LBA’s clear, boy do I feel like giving a cheer

Ten minutes away, it’s made my day

But it’s all in vain, we’re circling again

Now the Captain’s having another go, on the tannoy just told us so

Wheels down hope not lost, fingers crossed

Fingers crossed in vain, we’re going back up again

From here where do we go, we don’t yet know

Once again wheels down and inward bound

That’s it we’re on the ground

Almost beyond belief, but a great relief

But first I will, thank the Captain for his skill

Then get my case and the rest of my gear, an’ get the hell outa here

An’ make this latest poetry score,

The final one on my 2014 annual poetry tour

City Hopper planes need 300 metres clear vision to land, any less and they have to wait or divert, even on the run in if visibilty drops they have to abort the landing.