Image: Singer, Songwriter, Poet, Shane Cooley performing at the Saxon Pub, Austin Bergstrom Airport. He was singing as I passed and the song he was singing inspired me to write poem 152, shortly after hearing him.

 

25.04.16 - 149) Night faded

I wake up feeling slightly jaded

Departure day but first I make may way

To reception, no debatin’ free coffee waitin’

Need it to bring me round before I’m bound

To AWR, safest place to leave my car

An’ I can for a while lend a hand, sure has been grand

Baby opossums, bunnies an’ squirrels full of cheek and charm

Young racoons that’ll climb up your arm

Baby grey fox yawnin’ as if bored with it all,

Yeah once again I’ve had a ball

 

150) The bunnies were the first to feed, then attend to the opossums need

Workin’ outside and the sound

Of a plane takin’ off reminds me I’ll soon be homeward bound

The time seems to have passed much to fast

Time for one last look round

Bid the animals goodbye before to the airport I’m bound

An’ I’m knowin’ they’ll be loved an growin’

An’ they’ll be set free

An next year another bunch waitin’ for me

 

151) Down Martin Luther King Boulevard peckishness bitin’

At Popeye’s I’m alightin’

Day on track, stop for a snack

Off again then brief lull, got too get the car back with the gas tank full

That done to the airport I run

Car dropped off all ok I’m away

Check in desk, suitcase taken passport checked

Boarding passes collected, quicker than expected

Still dad to be leavin, but no time for grievin’

Then customs an’ I’m clear, this time no contraband vinegar to fear

Text home to say it’s goin’ well

To my delight a return text wishing me a pleasant flight

So now I’m hopin’ it’s not to late cos’ to get home I can’t wait.

 

152) Walkin’ to the departure gate, I ain’t got far

When I hear a man on guitar

My mind in a whirl it’s Shane Cooley singin’ Midnight Girl

Thoughts reelin it’s as if his song knows how I’m feelin’

He’s singin’ it as I’m walkin’ along, an’ it feels like I’m walkin’ in the song

Walkin’ to the terminal window an’ I’m lookin’ out

It’s like it’s my feelings he’s singin’ about

Not noticing othe passengers comin’ and goin’

I’m away into the song as its flowin’

It has me in its grip, takin’ me on a magical musical trip

Only lovers of music can reach

The song ends, I walk on slowly an’ smile

An’ think “how nice to lose myself in such a beautiful song

If only for a while”.

 

153) Plane boarded safety checks done, Runway we’re taxiing down

In flight personal entertainment I’ve got Country Music goin ‘down

Take off we’re in flight, everything’s still goin’ alright

Quite a choice, male or female voice

I’m makin’ up for lost time an’ gettin’ it all down in rhyme

 

154) In flight Westward goin’ I still got Country Music flowin’

Lookin’ on the titles I find, there’s one about The Travellin’ Kind

Long Gone Anyway, Can’t Get Away

Even one called Dreams are made of Clay

An’ I search and see at least two about Memphis Tennessee

Song for a Troubadour an’ more

I really got it ringin’

As long as I don’t upset folks by standin’ up an’ singin’

 

155) Now flying into the night, just had first meal of the flight

An’ left the Country Music alone for a while

Now listenin’ to some Classical style, thrilled to bits

Got some good old Brits

Walton’s Crown Imperial, boy does it carry

Then there’s Jerusalem by Hubert Parry

And from the finest in British Music creation,

Nimrod that great Elgar Enigma Variation

Brit songs from the seas something to please

And match all choices from Orchestra to voices

Reminds me of my time on radio whan I was The Man,

The man that can

The man that will, whether you’re rich or brassic,*

Play you your favourite classic

*Brassic: Rhyming slang foe having no money (brassic lint – skint)

 

26.01.16 - 156) Bright sunlight outside

You could say we’ve crossed the ocean wide

Texas now back beyond, the pond

Flight path clock says London 08:22, map shows Ireland below

An’ we’ve only got 49 minutes to go.

 

157) Eastward we go Wales below

Soon be over England’s Green and Pleasant Land

London bound in 20 minutes should be on the ground

In the morning sun, first flight done

 

158) Music playing, one of Classic Brits many hits

“There’s no place like Home”, appropriate for this part of my roam

Homeward bound well soon be on the ground

Plain banks, through cabin window I can see London below

Spirits lift I’m feeling grand, no need to frown, Ok pilot take us down

 

159) Got Walton’s Crown Imperial on the go

Ground coming up from below

Plane rocking not too shocking

Landed on the runway and I’m still writing away

Crown Imperial timed it right, the end of my first flight

I was writing this as we were landing it was like writing on a roller coaster.

 

160) We’ve flown thousands of miles

Now there’s passengers stood in the aisles

Some with a frown even though we’re down

Now they’re alighting and I’m still writing

But now no more

They’ve gone and now I’m heading for the door

 

161) Heathrow wait almost over but I was nearly in a fix

I was supposed to leave from Gate A8 but thought it was A6

Of other passengers no sign told me something wasn’t fine

Information board check looked foreboding saying A8 already loading

A quick jog to the gate at last aboard luggage stored

Seat found sit down and wait, for takeoff from Gate A8

 

162) Taxiing to the runway end extra thrust to send

Us Northward bound, we’re of the ground

Last look at Heathrow bathed in sun, our final flight has begun

 

163) Northwards we go England’s Green and Pleasant Land passing below

Now we’re told no more standing, cabin staff prepare for landing

Wheels down and locked runway in sight descending, all going right

Good landing didn’t even feel the ground we’re to the terminal bound

And same as last year, I want to get my case and the rest of my gear

And get the hell out of here

 

164) Home is the Poet from his latest tour

He's written, read an' heard many a poetry score

Now he's thinking as this tour ends

How great it has been to increase his circle of poetry friends