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Second Chance
by Chris Sorrenti
I’ve watched the footage countless times
mesmerized by the Focke-Wulf 190
trailing smoke...plummeting...inverted
the fighter mortally wounded by an American P-51
having undone his seat harness
flipped the airplane upside down
with what little control remains
the pilot shoots free of the cockpit
head first towards Earth
the film always cuts to another scene
just before the part
where the parachute fails to open
reinforcing my fear of heights
fascination with all things Third Reich
streets...buildings...faces
a feeling of connectedness
where there should be none
and a not so foreign language
“Spreken sie Deutsch?”
“Nein” I reply
compels me to learn again
those distant words
and yet always as close
as another viewing of the film
raised Roman Catholic
I was taught not to believe in a second chance
“only one kick at the can”
so the priests did say
and yet late at night...early in the morning
caught in that state of in-between
fragments reassemble...
I vaguely recall being in a large hall
surrounded by many judges
me begging to go back and put things right
“He was only defending his homeland,
did not subscribe to Nazi ideology”
retorts my defender in robes of burgundy
and then 1957
born...a continent...decade...a history away
another lifetime to discover who I really am
still haunted by the past...and the next future
long abandoned the warlike persona
known in the years of repeated youth
drawing ever closer to the end again
I work hard at perfecting perfection
unseen forces giving me many opportunities
I stop at the community mailboxes
unexpectedly find a neighbor’s keys
forgotten in the key hole
address easily traced from the number on the box
walking them over at the very moment she arrives
someone I’ve never met before
worried sick at where she had misplaced them
thanks me with a hug
as 60 some years on
though still a pilot in my soul
grounded in penance and contrition
I take comfort
how in acts of kindness such as this
there’s hope for me yet
© 2007
1,830 hits as of April 2024
01/27/2007 Posted on 01/27/2007
Copyright © 2024 Chris Sorrenti
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by Gregory O'Neill on 01/27/07 at 09:12 PM "...early in the morning/caught in that state of in-between/fragments reassemble" Terrific line, Chris. There's a welcome gulp of air at the end of this poem. Great read. Thanks.
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| Posted by Maureen Glaude on 01/27/07 at 10:00 PM yes, kindness and the joy of it, expecting nothing in return, a fine characteristic. You never lacked that while I've known you. Well said Chris. |
| Posted by Katerina T Nix on 01/29/07 at 02:15 AM "raised Roman Catholic
I was taught not to believe in a second chance".... sounds very familiar, indeed. Great piece, Chris. Well done. -Kat :) |
| Posted by Christel Crews on 01/29/07 at 04:44 AM what a poignant piece! kindness is a characteristic that is overlooked these days.. there is hope :) |
| Posted by Alisa Js on 01/29/07 at 10:41 PM This one captured my attention all the way through, Chris.. thanks for sharing.. aloha..;-0 |
| Posted by Charles E Minshall on 01/30/07 at 02:10 AM There needs to be more kindness in this world.
Nicely done Chris....Charlie |
| Posted by Mara Meade on 02/01/07 at 02:33 PM "...I work hard at perfecting perfection
unseen forces giving me many opportunities..." This line, if taken away from the context of the poem, would stand well on its own. In the context of the poem it seems like the crux, to me. Over-all, I felt as though I was given the opportunity to watch your mind find rationale... that you could post something quite this intimate leaves me in deep respect, as always, of your writing and you.
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