Once on a plane…

Dublin to Manchester
Once on a plane
I found a pair of sunglasses
a polarising pair
with circular lenses
of Matrix cool
left by the last occupant
missed between flights by the
cabin clean up crew
I have those glasses still
more than twenty years later
I’m a keeper.

Teneriffe to Gatwick
Once on a plane
I had the last moments
with my first great love
then she asked me to
hang back at the checkout
because her husband
was meeting her
and thought she was
holidaying alone.

Stanstead to Dublin
Once on a plane
I contemplated
flying to meet a woman
I had known only for
one chaste night
of intimations
who then sent me a ticket
for a weekend in County Leitrim

Manchester to Heraklion
Once on a plane
fleeing the pandemic
one step ahead of lockdown
I looked down on the Alps
a wilderness of mountains
as far as the eye could see
from thirty-five thousand feet
and saw not a trace of
human life, no villages
no roads, no smoke
as if already
we never existed

A Flight to Anywhere
More than once on a plane
I wonder about the lives
of Air Hostesses
or Hosts
or Stewards
as they are now called
whether they joined to
see the world
and whether they did
whether it’s true about
the crew parties
the god-like officers
marriage material
or just better advantaged
the ordinariness of
Ryanair crew
the haughty select of Air Aegean
each one as from the pages
of a 50’s fashion magazine
do the ordinary despise the haughty
meeting en passant
in some airport corridor
or do they share a common bond
of brother and sisterhood
is it just another flight
from one take off
to another landing
once on a plane…

© Andrew Wilson, 2024

Posted for Open Link Night at dVerse the Poets Pub

13 thoughts on “Once on a plane…

  • March 2, 2024 at 11:16 pm
    Permalink

    Fantastic poem! I especially love that opening stanza and Manchester to Heraklion. Great write! 🤩

    Reply
    • March 3, 2024 at 11:04 am
      Permalink

      Thank you Sunra, this is another one that came out of my writing group in only 30 minutes writing time and no editing – its a good group with stimulating prompts from poems discussed.

      Reply
  • March 3, 2024 at 9:53 am
    Permalink

    My favourite verse Manchester to Heraklion
    Thanks for dropping by my blog Andrew

    Much♡love

    Reply
    • March 3, 2024 at 11:06 am
      Permalink

      Years of personal history encapsulated in this poem Gillena – thanks for visiting ♡♡♡

      Reply
  • March 3, 2024 at 2:46 pm
    Permalink

    I have not flown a lot the last years, but I used to fly a lot when I was travelling in business… I mostly remember the people I met… those I talked to, never to meet again.

    Reply
    • March 4, 2024 at 7:20 am
      Permalink

      Yes that’s one of the joys of travelling…

      Reply
  • March 4, 2024 at 1:58 pm
    Permalink

    I love the series of cameos on planes Andrew, and not a little pathos in love lost and some wonderful musing.

    Reply
    • March 4, 2024 at 5:38 pm
      Permalink

      Thanks Paul – I like that format – thanks for visiting…

      Reply
  • March 4, 2024 at 6:56 pm
    Permalink

    Andrew, I really enjoyed each vignette, so skilfully written, making me smile.

    Reply
  • March 5, 2024 at 10:35 pm
    Permalink

    Well ….. Andrew it seems we have several things in common. Up to you to solve the puzzle. I thoroughly enjoyed this. You are an amazing talent.

    Reply
    • March 9, 2024 at 9:29 am
      Permalink

      I am going to put my Sherlock Holmes Deerstalker on Helen – I have been away at a full-on exhibition for work most of this week so I haven’t had the chance but Thank you for your generous comment…

      Reply
  • March 9, 2024 at 9:31 am
    Permalink

    Thanks Melissa, rereading it this morning, I see each stanza could be a stand-alone poem – especially that one…

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *