Farewell to America (hey, that'd be a good tune name)
- avanutria
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- Tell us something.: A long time chatty Chiffer but have been absent for almost two decades. Returned in 2022 and still recognize some names! I also play anglo concertina now.
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Farewell to America (hey, that'd be a good tune name)
It's 16th September; the hour approaches
when I take my place 'mongst the First Class and Coaches.
I shall brave tiny seats
and eat unknown meal-treats.
(Are these dinners really rejected by roaches?)
I'm off for a year! as the London lights beckon.
And my bags, I am always obsessively checkin'
to see what I've brought
and what I've forgot
but they'll probably sell it in England, I reckon.
My only concern: the secure airport zone
always patrolled by that slow airport drone.
My half dozen whistles
you'd think they were missiles!
As he paws his way through my backpack, I will groan.
On to Chicago, the great Windy City
I'm told that it's actually kind of quite pretty.
But I'll never know.
Whenever I go
I travel right through it, and often am giddy.
I recheck my info so I can't mistake it.
A hour for transfer - I hope I will make it.
But I have no choice:
bought a ticket, not voice
Though, as long as it gets me to England, I'll take it.
I'm at the next gate in a half hour flat
Seat 43 H?? Okay, where the heck's that?
Window, centre or aisle,
I'm not in denial -
Wherever they put me *sigh* that's where I'm at.
An eight hour flight across this great ocean
the dry cabin air makes me wish I had lotion
My seat moves with a jerk
and my headset won't work.
Customer comfort? What an odd notion.
Snatches of sleep when conditions are right -
On these flights I average two hours a night.
My eyes get quite bleary
so sore, red and weary -
But now we are landing, and soon we'll alight.
Three hundred people all shoved in and canned
None of us moving - so why do we stand?
If you all will please sit
and just *wait* for a bit
We'll all be more quickly deplaning to land.
And here's immigration - the worker who sees us
eagerly holding our passports and visas
He holds the high power
as man of the hour
I hope he has no plans to try to displease us!
Waiting for baggage, good time for a nap
Watching that empty mouthed baggage-hold gap
I sit with a sigh
lean my pack on my thigh
And I hope that no one has stolen my cr-- stuff.
*****
I will be offline for the next few weeks, possibly popping into the odd thread when I have the opportunity, but mostly trying to get resettled in London, which will be home for the next year! Thanks to everyone for your patience and support, and see you later from the other side of the pond!
when I take my place 'mongst the First Class and Coaches.
I shall brave tiny seats
and eat unknown meal-treats.
(Are these dinners really rejected by roaches?)
I'm off for a year! as the London lights beckon.
And my bags, I am always obsessively checkin'
to see what I've brought
and what I've forgot
but they'll probably sell it in England, I reckon.
My only concern: the secure airport zone
always patrolled by that slow airport drone.
My half dozen whistles
you'd think they were missiles!
As he paws his way through my backpack, I will groan.
On to Chicago, the great Windy City
I'm told that it's actually kind of quite pretty.
But I'll never know.
Whenever I go
I travel right through it, and often am giddy.
I recheck my info so I can't mistake it.
A hour for transfer - I hope I will make it.
But I have no choice:
bought a ticket, not voice
Though, as long as it gets me to England, I'll take it.
I'm at the next gate in a half hour flat
Seat 43 H?? Okay, where the heck's that?
Window, centre or aisle,
I'm not in denial -
Wherever they put me *sigh* that's where I'm at.
An eight hour flight across this great ocean
the dry cabin air makes me wish I had lotion
My seat moves with a jerk
and my headset won't work.
Customer comfort? What an odd notion.
Snatches of sleep when conditions are right -
On these flights I average two hours a night.
My eyes get quite bleary
so sore, red and weary -
But now we are landing, and soon we'll alight.
Three hundred people all shoved in and canned
None of us moving - so why do we stand?
If you all will please sit
and just *wait* for a bit
We'll all be more quickly deplaning to land.
And here's immigration - the worker who sees us
eagerly holding our passports and visas
He holds the high power
as man of the hour
I hope he has no plans to try to displease us!
Waiting for baggage, good time for a nap
Watching that empty mouthed baggage-hold gap
I sit with a sigh
lean my pack on my thigh
And I hope that no one has stolen my cr-- stuff.
*****
I will be offline for the next few weeks, possibly popping into the odd thread when I have the opportunity, but mostly trying to get resettled in London, which will be home for the next year! Thanks to everyone for your patience and support, and see you later from the other side of the pond!
- happyturkeyman
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- Wombat
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Good luck Beth. Hey, shouldn't that be Amerikay?
I was also somehow expecting that poem to be singable to 'Song for Ireland.' I'm always curious to know what people do with that ghastly line: saw summer sunsets, asked for more. (Dick Gaughan had the good taste to mumble it.) I sort of imagine the following conversation in a tourist trap in Galway.
— I'll have three pints of Guiness and another summer sunset, please.
—Arrrrh, to be sure. Will you be wanting fries with that?
I was also somehow expecting that poem to be singable to 'Song for Ireland.' I'm always curious to know what people do with that ghastly line: saw summer sunsets, asked for more. (Dick Gaughan had the good taste to mumble it.) I sort of imagine the following conversation in a tourist trap in Galway.
— I'll have three pints of Guiness and another summer sunset, please.
—Arrrrh, to be sure. Will you be wanting fries with that?
- Random notes
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Bon Voyage
Enjoy everything - the food, the weather...
Actually, one of these days I hope to go over. I love history and I love the idea of England.
Have fun and be sure to write.
Roger
Actually, one of these days I hope to go over. I love history and I love the idea of England.
Have fun and be sure to write.
Roger
- Whistlin'Dixie
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- izzarina
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Re: OT: Farewell to America (hey, that'd be a good tune name
Bon Voyage, Beth....or at least the English equivalent to that! Have a perfectly grand time!
Someday, everything is gonna be diff'rent
When I paint my masterpiece.
When I paint my masterpiece.
- emmline
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The slight irony of these bon voyage threads is that once you get settled, it'll be back to normal, geographic distinction becoming unnoticeable.
That's not to say I'm not a wee bit envious of your adventure...and your verse was quite evocative of an experience many of us have endured. Well done.
Have fun!
That's not to say I'm not a wee bit envious of your adventure...and your verse was quite evocative of an experience many of us have endured. Well done.
Have fun!
- SirNick
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