Up, Up, and Away!

 

Oh! Rapture at 10,000 feet and climbing,

a rare treat.

No mortal had the chance before the Wrights

To soar on the wing, higher than the birds.

Above the ocean 

and into the celestial sea.

an illusionary net of cotton ball clouds

upon which the imaginary god Zeus might perch

of no aid if things go south

The beauty of the filtered sunlight

makes you forget

the errand you are on

Then clouds turn from meadows into fierce mountains

their jagged edges in relief agains the dimming sky

A few miles and minutes more

they settle into a calm sea

making a horizon against the sun's waning light

Down the plane goes,

down like the sun

Until a few glimmers from above shine up

The lights and the sky grow bolder

competing for the night

As the wing hovers between the beauty

Making its choice

it leaves the sky behind

Rushing to the welcoming lights

a touchdown

The pleasure was mine.