Full flight imperils
Carry-on. Checked in at gate.
Aboard, empty bins.
Barry Goldwater
Terminal, flatly bright sun.
Inside, mild delay
Beastly hot gangway
Metal tube flies onward to
Georgia thunderstorms
Indicators show
Lavatories are half-full.
Dumped? Not dumped? We sit
That crap is fixed but
Now weather in Atlanta
Kicks us all off plane
In the alternate
On-time universe, we left
Two hours ago
Deplaned. Terminal
Flight information status
Now shows, “Departed”
Meanwhile, once again
I am asked to provide more
For expense report
On the plane once more
My wishes do not matter
Nor that I am tired
Someone left a bag
Security has been called for
And we wait and wait
Cell phones off, doors shut.
Dinner plans with Bill now lost.
On our way at last?
Return to the gate
Warning lights and new worry
Keep our flight aground
Water and snacks for
Four hour delay; raisins,
Cracker, spread, nut bar
This plane? A new plane?
No one has any idea
What is going on
New plane, new waiting
Clock says we should have landed
Ten minutes ago
Boarding the new plane
Too worn to be frustrated
No hope, yet hoping
Sunset poetry
Wasted on my cranky eyes
Yet beauty abides
Finally arrived
Circumstance is what it is
I’ve had longer days