Flying South Poem by Frank Bana

I never knew that flying South
Could be so long and wearying
I thought it easy to descend
Simple enough to reach the end

But it takes a life to find
The strong foundation of the mind
To put the fastened chains aside
To see sunsets with open eyes

The body not so perfect now
As if it ever really was
The daily circle on the wall
The evening rise and morning fall

Every minute on the clock
Is scarce, I have to make it count
Down beneath the yellow stars
While the time is running out

Imperatives of conscience call
Cheap translations don't suffice
Patches on my eyebrows thin
Girls pretending to be nice

They pin me wordless to my seat
Until I dare not turn my face
Fatal for me to compare
The lightening catches silver hair

There is a cot to sleep alone
Until the hurt begins to drain
Rebirth, rejuvenation starts
When I will kiss her in the rain

So long in limbo, hopes confined
Words and letters made in flight
Recruiting poems, tokens of art
To cross the bridges to her heart

For years we dream of one embrace
Celebrations we prepare
Flying through the hemisphere
Soon we will be meeting there.