I drove to your father’s smoke-stale house
Helped you pack your excess baggage
Shared a last coffee to delay the inevitable;
Mustered your excited children and envious parents
Convoyed to the airport.
Followed your treasure hunt from check-in to departure tax
to refreshment bar (milk for your baby)
Sat on stained, burnt airport carpet, awaiting your boarding call
Monitored your dancing children and nervous parents
While you rested in a blue chair.
Waved you through the door of no return
— Bye! Enjoy yourselves! —
Watched you dive skyward in an iron lung on metal wings
Parted formally with your relieved parents
And drove home dangerously, Jimi Hendrix screaming, home to nothing, crying.