Air Terminal, and Other Travel Poems

Everything's been on time so far.

Woke up at 5:19 AM

(a minute before the alarm)

Made coffee.

Got in the car and started driving by 5:38 AM

Drove through Rosenfeld to the #23

then West to Kane

and up to Sperling. Then

along the #3 to McGillvray Boulevard

and Kenaston to Wellington.

At the airport by 7:21 AM

Parked

Checked baggage

Bathroom

Cleared security

Coffee

Globe and Mail

Crossword

On the plane by 9:30 AM

Smooth flight

Some sinus pain on takeoff, but

it cleared before 20 minutes in

the air. Great

landing.

Smooth.

(Obviously)

What do you look at in the airport?

Who?

It's all just eyes and signs

in here  you can't look anywhere without some attempt

at recognition, we're all saved

by the generica of the terminal merchant

still I look

and look certain

that at some turn that familiar face

may be yours

So far nothing.

On the flight from Winnipeg the guy

next to me - young

overweight, oblivious -

plugs in as soon as he sits

Watches a fashion channel while

wearing khaki shorts with so

many pockets. Hair

moussed - that careful I don't give a damn

look. Soon that's not

enough and he lurches to straight

pulls out an ipod

touch. Flicks it

for the time

for wifi

for Tetris

The silence so overwhelming

he must hold it

back with falling blocks

This is the primary feature

of the air-terminal

the air-plane

the eponymous nature

of it.

We're all at an end

here.

Our wits

end.

What to do but

wait?

Delay.

Allay the ennui.

Screens loop ads

news reruns interrupt

that younger version of yourself

just over your shoulder

dead ends and

overpriced sandwiches

gateways to jet-engined launch pods

In the air terminal one surveys all

assays nothing

In the air terminal one

stops to go

Ride report

in:            4'C wind 20 ks S

out:         10'C wind 30 ks S