‘Tis an apt metaphor for a mourner
On a plane flying up in the sky
Suspended in the air, way up high, way up there
Facing the challenge of not wondering why
‘Tis an apt metaphor for a mourner
Floating right in between death and life
Being there on a jet, it is safe, there’s no threat
Except from a heart-piecing knife
‘Tis an apt metaphor for a mourner
Whose world just endured quite a quake
As the miles zip on by, you can’t turn a blind eye
You try sleeping but you still suffer awake
‘Tis an apt metaphor for a mourner
Who gives up all control on a plane
As the tears just fall free, where everyone can see
You grieve in the public domain
‘Tis an apt metaphor for a mourner
When you’re on a journey that you didn’t choose
You belt yourself in, without a beloved next of kin
For a new normal you would rather eschew
*written aboard JetBlue, flying home from my father’s funeral
**eschew – avoid, dodge, duck, elude, escape, evade, shun
**Shloshim refers to the 30 days after the funeral when a mourner slowly expands the place within the community
Explore more poetry about mourning Papa (my dad, Ken Kipnes).
Watch my videos about mourning
Enjoy more of my spoken word poetry
Beautifully written.
Thanks