Seat 32H
Jeny Cassady
Rows and rows of blue cloth seats
each with a different top:
Salt and pepper, black and wild,
long cut, short cut,
bleach blonde, bald.
The beast roars and tilts and rumbles.
The vibrations quieting many to sleep already.
Sharing air with 200 strangers--toilets, and microwaved food.
Underneath, bags of dirty laundry and gifts
crammed helter skelter, rubbing on each other--
keeping warm?
Charlie Brown’s teacher makes an announcement,
and stewards shuffle up the aisle.
I’m thinking of the bag of sweets in my purse,
and suddenly of home:
The high ceilings, open rooms,
peaceful and familiar surroundings,
Green grass, sun sails, crisp clean bright kitchen,
big soft bed, the man I put my arms around.
“What would you like to drink?”
And I’m rocked back to now,
to the uncomfortable blue cloth seat
my knees touching the one in front
my body aching already.
Only 8 ½ hours to go.