|
TWO POEMS FOR HER
by W. Mahlon Purdin1. ALL THE WAY HOME
There was a woman
On the plane to San Juan
(On the way to St. Martin)
Who read the Santa Biblia
All the way for more than
Three hours. As the plane
Began an orderly descent,
And she was packing up her
Things, it was the last item
She tucked away in her
Over-stuffed -- somewhat small --
Handbag. As she put it
In its place, I noticed
That her hands were shaking
So hard that she had trouble
Checking her seat belt.
She was afraid,
Terrified, really,
All the way. Probably in her
Early fifties, somewhat dowdy,
This woman flew in fear
Clutching her bible
All the way home.
2. POR DIOS
One more word on
The woman one seat up
And across the isle...
For three hours she never
Looked up, never looked
Around, never did anything
But clutch and read
Her bible, hands shaking in fear.
After I silently completed
My poem about her,
Dated and titled it,
I looked up and she
Was staring at me.
Do you think God told her
What I was doing?
1/12/86 01/12/1986 Posted on 02/07/2014
Copyright © 2026 W. Mahlon Purdin
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by Quentin S Clingerman on 02/07/14 at 03:47 PM Fear while flying must be a terrible thing. You catch the pathos very well. Perhaps you were inadvertently staring at her (unconsciously). Or she may have intuitively picked up on your silent but singular attention. |
|
