Image: Summed up in one word "Home"

 

27.04.2015 – 134) Lightnin’ flashin’ a rumbling sound

Strong wind blowin’, rain hittin’ the ground

Coming down in a torrent, to some most abhorrent

To some grand, increased water supply irrigates the land

I’m listenin’ through the window the rains glistenin’

In the glow of a nearby floodlight

An’ I’m hopin’ it won’t last long an affect my homeward flight

 

135) The winds dropped the storms stopped

I’m packed an’ ready to go, join the traffic flow

But I don’t have to be, at the airport while three

In the afternoon, that’s not to soon

So I’ve got most of the day, to wile my time away

An’ I’ve a notion as is my will, what better way my time to fill

By finishing this rhyme

An’ helpin’ Austin Wildlife Rescue one more time

 

136) It was a surprise they couldn’t believe their eyes

When I walked through the door, sayin’ “I’ve come to do a bit more

I don’t have to be at the airport till three

And here seems the perfect place to be

So my first task was to ask

Shall I start with the possums in the raccoon room

I was told ok, and got on with it straight away

Vegetables chopped, into cages dropped

On to clean bedding paper then the best part was usually a caper

It’s mindin’ their teeth while getin them down to eat

An there’s nothing more satisfyin’, no decryin’

Any time of day, watchin’ a group of possums eatin’ away

Raccoons were fed, grass for the rabbits, laundry done too

It was amazing how time flew

An’ although I felt I could have stayed

It was time to depart, sadness in my heart

But proud of the part I played

And I’ll smile at the end of my roam,

When my family and Louie welcome me home

 

137) I thought a meal would be nice,

Much cheaper than the airport price

So it was Popeye’s at last, it was usually closed when I passed

But this time I could smile and enjoy their food Cajun style

An’ once I’ve been fed, to the airport I’ll head

Hopin’ things go right, for my homeward flight

138) Austin Airport in sunlight swathed

I’d brought the third car back unscathed

Although there’d been near misses, not all love and kisses

I’d covered many a mile mostly with a smile

Through mist an’ rain, along interstate over plain

Even makin’ the most of a drive to the coast

It’s stood there proud but dusty lookin’

Now it time to find where I book in.

 

139) Check in done, custom through, then to Gate 2

Sit and ponder before the wild blue yonder

First an AIPF  report give it some thought

What went wrong what went right was it a disaster or a delight

Written down what I think, will it bring a smile or cause a stink

Hopefully constructive not destructive

Seemed to have taken ages, I’d written almost three pages

Then what came to mind was writin’ of a different kind

An take some time to update my journal in rhyme

140)  Plane ready not time to tarry,

Time to get on the plane that will carry

Some to foreign lands to roam

Others and me to the place we call home

Seat found, belt fastened, taxi, take off, homeward bound

 

141) Climbin’ higher we go, Austin disappearin’ below

Gonna be a long flight so I’m gonna write

First clouds seen seem to creep across the sky like lost sheep

Now we’re higher thicker clouds like smoke from a forest fire

Or as if causing destruction, like ash from a volcanic eruption

I write some more then look out of the window to find

We’ve left the thicker clouds behind

There’s formations that remind me, of white treed islands on a blue sea

Onwards eastwards we go

An’ I find I’m lookin’ at the Mississippi River below

Remembering the first sight of it five years ago

An’ Memphis a place not to be missed on that years visitin’ list

Where I was able at the Hollywood to enjoy catfish on the table

Walk along Beale Street an’ Union Avenue

To thegates of Gracelandsm stand beneath WC Handy’s statue

Now it’s further we are I’ve looked out an’ found

A carpet of grey cloud an’ we can’t see the ground

Now I’m gonna relax an’ hopefully tiredness will over me creep

So’s I can have a relaxin’ sleep

 

28.04.2015 - 142) From a brief sleep woken outside day has broken

Atlantic ‘neath clouds below, over an hour to go

An’ I’m composing this rhyme in British Summer Time

 

143 - 149 are Haiku's I wrote as event sunfolded

143) Eastward heading still

Heathrow just an hour away

First flight nearly done

 

144) Cabin staff comin’ round

Refreshments available

Final snack before landing

 

145) Severn Estuary passed

Now over England’s

Green and pleasant land

 

146) Cultivated hedgerows

Shaping fields, making

Agricultural quilt

 

147) Horizontal loop

In flight path made, descending

Prepare for landing

 

148) Circling round inward bound

London below, not long to go

Final approach

 

149) Wheels down and locked

Runway getting slowly nearer

Slight bump we’ve landed

 

150) Waiting at Heathrow, one more flight to go

To Manchester, leave at noon, can’t come too soon

I’ll know which gate when, they show it at 11:10

And to my delight, where to catch the final flight

 

151) Energy levels flagging, don’t want my concentration laggin

Avoid confusion, time for a coffee infusion

Black, the proper stuff one cup should be enough

Quite nice and not bad for airport price

Now I’m sat where the departure board can be seen

Only to learn they’re now showing the gate at 11:15

 

152) Now for the gate, it’s saying please wait

An’ I’m waitin’ hopin’ I’ll see, which gate it’s gonna be

That’s it I know where I’ve to be and it’s gate A3

153) Gate A3 found joined the queue, brief chat with the cabin crew

Nice to be welcomed with smiles after all the miles

Now on board, hand luggage stored

Seat belt on, soon we’ll be gone

Now we’re in reverse as I write this verse

Then forward to the runways end, an, ’waitin’ for the order to send

Us off the ground, northward bound

Now the plane’s rollin’ forward again

It’s stop go, like an M25 traffic flow

An’ patience we’ll learn taking off when it’s our turn

Now no more fuss now it’s us in our A319 Airbus

Control says “ok” full power an’ we’re away

An’ soon we’re gonna be

Landing in Manchester, where I can’t wait to get my gear, get clear

An’ see my homeward bound taxi waitin’ for me

 

154) ETA 13:08, could be we’re gonna be a few minutes late

So for now relax sit back, enjoy a soft drink and a snack

Let the tension recede before the disembarkation stampede

Now we’re going down soon we’ll be on the ground

Wing flaps moving with intent as we begin our descent

Now the plane’s rocking, not overly shocking

Through the clouds it’s clear, runways getting near

Ground seems to be rinsing to meet us as if to greet us

Saying “welcome home at the end of your roam

Now the wheel touch the ground

Plane slowing to the terminal going

Once more safe and sound once more on the ground.

 

155) Left the plane, I’m back on home soil again

Suitcase collected, there as expected

Taxi home at the end of my roam

Family meeting me with a welcome greeting

An although this tours been a real blast

Louie’s welcome made me feel, it’s good to be home at last.

Louie started the first poem so it seemed right he should end the last