The Gift

They met before the air, when the air was to be sky

An aged lifetime dreamer met a genuinely considerate guy

Who met an elderly woman, with a strong desire to fly

He gave up first class to her, she gave a pleased and grateful sigh

 

Violet, eighty-eight, could afford an economy ticket

Jack had first class for his whole family to wing it

Both were going London to New York in early December

She with no flight priors, this special first to remember

 

He knew this from chatting to her in the airport lounge

This was her first overseas flight, to her daughter bound

She told of her grief at the family departure and long absence

And her last chance to see their new American residence

 

Jack told his wife of Violet’s anticipation, joy and excitement

He wanted to add more to what this flight already meant

He gave up his seat berthed next to his own family

That she could travel verily to her family comfortably

 

And the stewards said it felt lovely, it was the sweetest thing

To take her photo up front while in first class she winged

An image for her daughter to see, who may not have believed

And for Jack as a memento of the pleasure given and received

 

For it wasn’t just the ticket, the seat or the price

It was the face of human kindness that was so wonderfully nice

Everyone who observed was touched by his gesture

Everyone was reminded what in a person should be measured

Seeking out what is good is the measure to be treasured

Good on you Jack

Rosella Highway

I love to sit by Rosella Highway

IMG_4329.jpgWhen a crimson flash drives my way

A dip, a rise, a lateral meander

Arcing right to pass our verandah

Cutting the corner, just by my head

Blurred red into blue the colours bled

A wind that brushes across my cheek

As the rushing parrots charge by to seek

Fields of grain, seed and fruit

Forests of buds and flowers to loot

 

Friends and family travel in flocks

Adults school juveniles in hard knocks

That clearly dictate the pecking order

While traversing landscapes without border

Their 3D byways criss cross the land

Enhanced and encumbered by rise of man

They flit up to perch on the highest limb

They dive deep to drop to waters brim

 

I watch with envy this life of pleasure

By which I set my life to measure

Views of the world I’ll never see

From high above and in canopy

 

Agile aerialist sky bourne of air

Fortunate bird without a care