The Jump Poem by Gert Strydom

He is standing at the open door of the aircraft
and see his life flashing past,
while strong winds are pulling
on his face and jacket
and the light keeps on flashing green
and somebody taps him on the shoulder.

It’s like a explorer
walking into an new world,
with the earth rushing past beneath him
and he is almost above the horizon.

It’s as if for moments
he is hanging and feeling insignificant
and he is thought struck
while he falls at terminal velocity,

the wind is whistling in his ears
and it is then that he locks his thoughts,
knowing that man is but paltry
and seconds drags on like hours

before he pulls the string,
the parachute rushes open,
breaking his fall with force
and he is gliding like an eagle

while he’s riding the wind,
getting breathtaking views
of the scenery
that stretches out far below him,
drawing a picture
up to the horizon.