thinks he'll get up
in about half an hour or so
--the alarm bell rings
turning the taxi around
to go back for her front teeth
sparking an alert
camera left in pocket
by first-time flyer
moved to an earlier flight
due to fog in Amsterdam
sun shines on snow-scape
we are flying
above the clouds
spreading wobbly marmalade
at 29,000 feet
Schiphol Airport
miles and miles of walkways
between the gates
frisked by a security man
for the second time today
hot hand towels
crossing over Scotland
heading towards Iceland
over the top of Greenland
filling in a green form
the whole way across
the Atlantic--still
only halfway there
high above Manitoba
his feet have fallen asleep
inflight movie?
videotape is corrupt
millennium bug?
homebound Emily age four
cheers us with her chattering
after the last meal
long queues
for the toilets
unaccustomed to the heat
we sweat in the Customs Hall
catching a "shuttle"
it encircles the airport
for twenty minutes
afternoon rush-hour freeway
back home it is past bedtime
--Gerald England