I believe this thought came from Michelle’s quick write on Day 1?
-Sat for 7 hours in a non-reclining, no padding whatsoever airplane passenger seat
-Seat too small, butt too big. Instant bruises on both hips
-No bathroom visit; too much of a chore. Flight suit not for females in mind
-Guys unzip, and it’s done.
-Girls, unzip, hold the main body and arms of the flight suit, just past thighs, squat so nothing touches the pee dripped cabin floor
-No thank you, I’ll hold it
– Halfway into the trip,
– “Here’s a air sick bag”
– Laughed.
– Don’t need, been traveling since I was three. Gave it back.
– Flight engineer laughed and threw it back at me.
-Sailor and airmen alike on board, all strangers
-On their way to a 6 month deployment to Kandahar
– My stay? A 48 hour, house call? To all those who need career guidance. 37 interviews. I can do this.
– No conversations.
– No meal service.
– Water bottle in left flightsuit thigh pocket
– Propeller engines, so loud.
– Put me to sleep.
– Awaken by overhead speaker squawk
– Raspy voice
– “Strap in and keep air bags close”
– Whyyyyyy?
– Immediate Dive
– Abrupt Climb
– Swerve left then right, and dive like an eagle going in for a meal
– Two more erratic maneuvers
– Rattling sounds, Metal against metal
– This can’t be healthy for this metal tube
– Female airman next to me lost her lunch twice.
– Gave her my unused airsick bag
– White knuckles
– Someone yelled
– Going to die?
– I’m a mom, my girls beautiful faces flashed as I squeezed my eyes so tight it hurt
– Reached for my rosary beads in right shin zipped right pocket
-Hit the back of my head on the skinny metal arm rest as we rose then dove quickly
-a pen and a small wadded up gum wrapper floated like it if we were in space
-I crushed the wooden crucifix into my palm, trickle of blood
– I mumbled and repeated Hair Mary’s double timed until
– We leveled off
– Landed safe
– On a sandy airstrip
The only way to leave and enter the base.
All of me intact, maybe I’ll use the air sick bag on the way out.
(More to come for the 48 hour experience? write another way?)
I love the sensory details and the tension in this poem! I’d love to see this as a series of poems that share your story — maybe even a memoir in narrative poetry?
Thank you Michelle.I would love to try that, but I’ve never really written poetry, I need lessons. LOL
I love the pacing of your poem. The abrupt nature of each line almost mimics the feeling of being in flight. It was like I was on the plane watching your thought process in real time. I want to know what happens next! I second Michelle’s thought to share more of your stories.
OK! Thank you Hope!!!
I love the details. It made it so easy to visualize and feel what you were going through. I like the format with the hyphens starting each line.
Thank you Britney!
“I crushed the wooden crucifix into my palm, trickle of blood” – just one of the things on this trip used as intended closely followed by the air-sick bags! Think about a collection of your memories as an service member (I have a personal anthology of mine) either for yourself, or your kids, or for other female service members. I am a veteran but was never in any more danger than having a hangnail or becoming air/car sick on a quick ride to a neighboring facility as I was JAG. Write it all down, Chelle – with your wit, your positive outlook on life and your quite obvious skill as a storyteller and writer you’ll be able to reach a very broad audience.
YOU. are so sweet! OK..Hey hangnails hurt! LOL. I will consider this for sure!!!
Lots of details in concise wording! You did a great job of creating a lot of tension.
Thank you, Jill
I am just amazed by your journey, your tenacity and your joy. Love seeing these snapshots of your lived experience and getting to know you on a deeper level. Mad respect!
Aww thank you, Michale.
Woah! I love this. I could feel the intensity and was holding my breath as I read!
I think I held my breath too often that day as well -LOL
Chelle! I felt your pain as I was reading your poem. I felt like I was sitting beside you, experiencing this event with you. Thank you for your service to our country.