The highway patrol are on their way
To your father’s home
On the opposite side of the country.
I await confirmation
But I know you died.
Died doing what you loved best,
Flying.
I tremble with shock and maybe early grief
While you begin a new journey
Without all who love you.
Somehow I see you tonight happy
As you were when you talked about
Your new job which you took
So you could fly inclement weather,
Especially snow
But you never got the chance –
It was clear tonight.
Oh, why couldn’t you have done
What ordinary people do –
Teach, work with computers –
Some regular kind of job
But you had to find your own path
Which took you further than
You’d planned.
Oh, my dear handsome, enigmatic son
Every airplane shall be yours
And every cloud shall embrace you.
Fly on
Fly on for all eternity