Turbulence

Turbulence overcomes the plane,
And the children laugh.

As their parents grip the handrests,
They giggle.

The cabin crew look around reassuringly,
As one hundred sweaty fingers are linked,
And we all steadfastly remain in character,
As concerned passengers,
Of Jetstar A320’s matinee performance.

But the children just keep laughing,
Uninhibited by etiquette, or physics, or fear,
Creating a tantalising tension,
As innocence delicately invites us too,
To welcome the funny feeling in our tummies.

So they laugh.
And it feels to me that their laughs alone
Could keep the plane in the air.

Andrew Bloyce