a poem in my pocket

former navy pilot unpacks

fond memories of his days

ordered in pristine uniform,

life aboard aircraft carrier.

forever alert, he still scans

ocean-blue expanse of sky

beyond white-sand islands

of floating cumulous puffs.

reminisces one shining hour:

officer’s personal invitation

to test-flight new jet fighter,

before honorable discharge.

accelerate to pure freedom;

loop-de-loop clouds, swoop

between sapphire skies and

cerulean sea, defy gravitas.

reverie reverts, retiree points

up – “those clouds look innocent

yet pose real threat to pilots;

may harbor hail, wind shears.”

in worn-out lawn chair, he bird

watches as sleek indigo swallows

swiftly cruise from barn hangar

to sail into loyal-blue heavens.

photo: wiki commons

A memory my 82 yr. old father shared with me while staying at our house this summer and linking with dVerse poets OLN in response to De’s “blue” prompt.