On a Plane

The man next to me is sleeping
But his movie keeps playing
I long for such contentment
And the strength of noise cancellation
Why do I envy the man I do not know?
I close my eyes
The plane falls violently away beneath me
Saved by the seat belt
Startled and fooled
Disconnected from time and place
I think about everything I have and haven't done
And wonder if it is too late
I crack the shade and grow melancholy at the wing hugging the cloud
So many miles
So much distance
Mistakes, waste, nostalgia, abandoned promises
The momentum of time is crushing
The man next to me wakes up and we joust for the armrest

© Poem Fix http;//www.poemfix.com 2012

In Bryant Park

Arrived at Bryant Park early
Because I misjudged the time
Like I have misjudged many things
I find the only open green chair and try unsuccessfully to blend in
Two German women behind me are struggling with English
Figuring out the difference between lend and borrow
And the challenge of s and z sounds
Can we ever get rid of our accents?
Don't think about it
Le Carrousel is turning
Just one lazy young passenger on an immense frightened rabbit
Her bored father looks on
He appears tired and trapped
We lock eyes for a moment then break away, embarrassed
Lovers on the lawn kiss
They aren't wearing watches
Are they on schedule and bound by the expectations of unread email?
I wonder if adults are allowed on the carrousel
And at what price

© Poem Fix http;//www.poemfix.com 2012

Carnegie Deli

Two half-balding men in loose suits
Eating breakfast with a two-star uniform
Days away from retirement and a bad back
Coffee, half glass of milk, orange juice
Muttering about an Italian man
And a hard working American
An executive from Mexico involved in a ransom scheme
The ties are detectives
Laughing about their wives and the terrible way someone was killed
The air conditioner blows loudly but you don't hear it
Dead-end waiters bicker about what table a customer gets
You be the seater 'cause I'm not seating anyone else

I poke at my cheddar cheese egg white omelet

But tourists at the next table brag about seeing Al Roker
Sharing their digital photos
Gawking at the stars on the wall
My server, Poo, is polite
Offering more coffee, my bill, instructions
Pay cashier but leave tip on table
Got it
The coffee is good
So at least that's something

© Poem Fix http;//www.poemfix.com 2012

Waiting

My mother's eyes said
She was waiting
That it was OK
But it wasn't
And I was afraid
For her
For me
I should have stayed longer
But my weakness won
I touched her arm but only barely
Goodbye, mother
Hurry
I am tired of waiting

 

© Poem Fix http;//www.poemfix.com 2012