July 8:

Flight back to KC
From reality TV
To reality

Life-saving advice
Mumbled quickly, fuzzy like
A grade-school PA

“It’s against the law
“To destroy the smoke alarm”
Never would have guessed!

A roar of engines
Long run to get momentum
Wing flaps flat; we’re off

Harbor’s blue jewel
Marina del Ray, beaches
Wink a last goodbye

From high above, sprawl
Of LA is still enough
To fill the window

Print on wing says “Don’t
“Walk outside this area”
Air monsters, take note

Her head, my shoulder
Get reacquainted during
Little in-flight nap

Grand or not, canyon
Stretches to the horizon
Gaping red, green, brown

Cotton clouds hover
Unreal, like a kid’s stickers
Pasted to the blue

Flight’s slowed down a bit
Headwinds? No, humidity
KC must be close

Sprawl, KC version
Cul-de-sacs’ cookie cutters
Stamping out farm fields

LA to KC
Rod Serling appears, to take
Those two hours back