Fantasy Flights

by Kevin Sinclair

I'm on my last midnight flight,
The big jet engines mornfully cry
As we taxi towards those bright lights
That will silently guide us
Out of this time and place
Taking us up into starlit skies.

This seat belt is like a chain
It binds me to the here and now
I can't run back to what I've left behind
The sorrowful goodbyes were part of the charade
To hide the joy of departing
And excitement of the unknown.

Acceleration pushes me back into my seat
As the plane begins its climb
Into the land of clouds and stars
Turning I look out the peep hole
The city's lights flicker beneath me
Goodbye my friend I won't return
The past is with you, you keep the pain
I feel no sorrow in the leaving
Just look at you, you can be so deceiving
With those lights in your eyes
Now I have learnt the truth.

I look around the crowded cabin
At my fellow adventurers and escapists
Life is a holiday
Life is a dream
Floating around in space
But it will be over all too soon
My feet will be back on the ground
Making fresh plans
Meeting new people
Making a dozen new friends
But I can't forget you
You haunt my dreams when I sleep
When I wake I know you're gone.

The fasten seat belts sign illuminates
I padlock that heavy chain
That holds me in this one place
Descent begins and my ears pop
Again the flicker of city lights
My mind askes the question
Will it all be the same my friend
My heart refuses to listen
It holds blind hope
Those times are far away now
They cannot return
And as we taxi towards the terminal
I grasp my overnight bag
Weary from lack of sleep
I stumble into the lounge
Slowly I cast my eyes around
There's no one here to greet me
I'm all alone.

This poem is from a collection of poetry by Kevin Sinclair. For a listing of other poems by Kevin published on this site, click here.