Friday 23 June 2017

Sitting On The Pan

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This is the second of two poems I wrote whilst traveling to the UK yesterday. I hope you like it.

Sitting On The Pan

The flight's all boarded, nice and neat
everyone has got a seat
inflight checks have been done
a safety brief for everyone
no one listens, they never do
well ok, perhaps a few.
A speaker crackles into life
the captain says we face more strife
a short delay while a slot is found
the aeroplane is stuck on ground
the door is open for fresh air
and avture makes that air smell queer.
Eventually things fall in line
I can't help think, "about bloody time!"
the plane's pushed back as tables stow
upright seats, we're ready... Go!
the mewling baby's fallen quiet
we're on our way, what a riot.

John Carré Buchanan
22 June 2017


If you click on the link below you can listen to me read this poem.


22 comments:

  1. Richard Fleming26 June 2017 at 17:32

    Both these poem are ones that we long-suffering travellers can relate to, John. I'd suggest, tongue -in-cheek, that you send them to Aurigny or Flybe's in-flight magazines and suggest they publish them.

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    1. Thanks Richard, Oh but it weren't so! I might just send them off having just had such a horrible trip home. That poem is waiting on my frazzled mind calming down a bit!

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  2. haha...still funny and entertaining, I love it!

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    1. Hi J.T, thanks for your comment, I'm glad you liked the poem.

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  3. How I love the rhyme in both the poems :)

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    1. Hi Sumana, thanks for your comment, glad you liked the poems

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  4. Ha ha..reminds me of the time I fell asleep as soon as I boarded an early morning flight and an hour later woke up to find we were still on the ground. Travel nightmares!!

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    1. Hi Thotpurge, thanks for your comment, better than waking up at the last stop of a train and realising that you should have got off an hour ago!

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  5. I've never been on a plane where the door is opened for the passengers to get fresh air while waiting on the tarmac. This must be a flight of fancy! :)

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    1. Hi MMT, thanks for youer comment, I can assure you it was not a flight of fancy, indeed it is quite common here.

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  6. Yesterday a jet with 200 on board made a landing all on its own, disregarding instructions from air traffic control. Consternation abounded. I havent heard any further details but imagine an ulcers attack in the controller trying to stop the plane from landing. LOL.

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    1. Hi Sherry, I can imagine a few people being more than a bit concerned over that! Thanks for your comment.

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  7. I like how the speaker crackles into life. Nice I have been stuck on an airplane once when we went to Turkey and it was standing with all of us in there and a reparation was done. It became so hot that I nearly passed out.

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    1. Hi Marja, It is an experience I have suffered many times over the years, It's never much fun! Thanks for your comment.

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  8. Yet another great recount of flight frustration. My first love is rhyming poetry, John, and your rhyming and cadence is always spot on! BRAVO

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    1. Hi Indybev, thank you for your kind comment, I am glad you enjoy my poems.

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  9. All of us probably have tales to tell of waiting on the tarmac. Once with civil unrest at one stop over we were not allowed to get off but were stuck on board for six hours!

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    1. Hi Old Egg, Thanks for your comment, when I was a child flying out to Mauritius spent a total of 18 hours and 2 crew changes waiting on the aircraft for the fog to clear. we then had to get off for the aircraft to be refuelled and restocked. Whilst we were off the fog lifted, we reboarded and the fog came down for another 6 hours.... No one was very happy!

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  10. Jingles like nursery rhymes--sweet! And I love the finish. These two poems are wonderful.

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    1. Hi Susan, I am glad you liked the poems. Thanks for your comment.

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  11. You have expressed so well the experience of those times before take-off! And, alas, thankfully the baby settles down.

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    1. Hi Mary, thank you for your comment. I must admit I was glad when the baby settled.

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I really appreciate constructive feedback. If you are able to comment it would be most grateful.