on election day
i fly Air Canada
i fly with my little eye
something that is
blue & red

it’s American Airlines
with stripes on its’ tail
trust in the truth
tenants take position

rev accelerate fall backwards into your seat
use caution when opening the door
first pull up then pull down

your safety is our top priority
set your devices to airplane mode
it’s a hazard if a device falls

if a device fails follow floor lighting
to the nearest exit
if landing in water reach for your mask

if cabin pressure changes
put your mask over your mouth
then put on the oxygen mask
breathe normally

the smell of gas?
we suggest you say a little prayer for us

due to heavy headwinds & turbulence
fasten seatbelts even when the sign is off &

take off over south mountain
where i hiked yesterday
below those 5G towers

on the edge of land & air
Papago park Garda world operations vehicles
green siren AZ national guard Honeywell skytrains

regular rooftops rectangular parking lots patchwork green fields
dry river beds brown squares silver circles azure pools

lines of transition tiny towns snuggled in valleys
snow capped peaks Lake Mead chem trails

velocity of wings no step hoist point eyes on the horizon
southwest airlines’ blue trucks “every body loves snacks”

tinkle of silverware & premium snacks in first class

perfect time to write trapped on a plane
we feign sane as we let writing in us die
again & again

late last night you stopped the film ‘let go’
to discuss us
& the introduction of our animals
during American thanksgiving
with your Mom & daughter visiting

the plan was to pick us up in two weeks
drive from Gibsons to your home in Phoenix

put my cat in the spare bedroom for three weeks
train your corgi not to attack my shepherd

celebrate your daughter’s eighteenth birthday
host the turkey dinner the next day

with your relatives
& for me to spend xmas there

of course my mother gets wind of that
“you’re coming home for xmas, aren’t you?”

& as she ails
she hails their timely relocation
into assisted living

“just in the nick of time”
just before St. Nick’s arrival

the old folks are failing
they pray to see another spring

while their children try to maintain their freedom
& be thought full

“we’ve missed you so much
we’re always talking about when you’re coming back
we look forward to getting to know Dee better

can she come to Hart House to meet all the rellies on the twenty-first?
can she come for dinner at our new home
everyone loves it
ask Craig & Linda & Jane”

we hover over detail
when everything is new
a new relationship
a new home
a return to my beloved
my dog Gaia greeting me tonite
if i make the 5:30 ferry
i hope Lavonne will videotape us

it is good to come home
it is good to travel
but relocation to another country
perhaps not as brave as my folks yet

“due to heavy winds we are late”
i will have to wait until tomorrow
to greet Gaia wah!

perhaps she is there all along