High up

I am diminished and diminutive

I belong with the unassuming.

I recall a plane where water

was a dollar and a quarter

and the attendant cocked her glossy head

when I asked for tap.

this plane is tiny and everyone here is rich.

sometimes they put pets in crates

where the luggage refrigerates.

and my cheekbones protest

the onslaught of flesh

marking my progress

to a fate in the ranks of the corpulent, inflamed faces

of middle aged winos in business class,

cheeks and lips ablaze, bulbous with drink

minus business class.

The rubber band on the wrist trick doesn't work,

I'll still bite the candles of my cuticles to the wick,

I'll still buy two buck chuck on my last two bucks.

But when my skin bunches

like mountains at a faultline

I will be ma'am instead of miss

Sunglasses illustrate me a new set of eyes,

headphone wires are leaky faucets

of white matter dripping from my ears.

Author's Note

Still loosy goosy, got a wrench to its bolts and may add a bit more to the closing
Thinking about switching around some of the stanzas, the first and second?

Reviews

[Philip Muls]

I like the way you deal with the caste system in airplanes, as if that is based upon anything of substance rather than $. Well done.

[Chris]

A beginning then past then present - fits well for most work though not all. But that isn't what this one was about anyway. And It's hard being a ma'am in a miss world... just like being spoken to as a Sir. Mirrors lie to mind's eyes and we live with the difference.

Noise cancelling headsets don't seem to keep out our own voices do they...

[M. Shepherd]

Hmm that made me look at it a little differently.. the time travel in the voice does confuse it a bit.. is it convoluted? Is it comprehensible?

And man, yes, you nailed it about the noise cancelling headphones.

[Chris]

Marcie, I "got it" fairly straightforward - but that's me. Though - I tend to think most will understand IF they want to think on it. And I said "rare voice" meaningfully NOT as an airhead comment.

Sometimes ya need to speak as you FEEL... and let others work for it. Everything in life doesn't always come on a platter with a side of wikipedia, encyclopedia, dictionary, and thesaurus; sometimes a reader just has to listen.

[M. Shepherd]

Haha I love that - and it's true isn't it.. poetry should ask something of a reader, almost a direct participation, hop on my plane for a journey and yes its confusing, you think I have it all figured out?!

I want to look squarely in the eye the rare voice comment but truly it makes me feel like an excited terrier that's going to bonk it's head right into a parked car. I hope dearly it were true and I will strive for honesty as much as possible, is all I can say to it.

[Chris]

Lot of airheads... fewer "voices". But it really isn't airheadishness - many haven't a clue what to say and others are trying so hard to be nice as only they know how. Critiques hurt but they are - ARE - personal as hell and comments ...well, many don't even leave a noseprint on the glass to show they were ever there.

[M. Shepherd]

Critiques are difficult, it's hard work. I will always appreciate someone who's taken the time to think about the words and give a brutally honest evaluation of their effect - moreover, of what they need, how they could be more effective - all that takes true work. I've been through school but it's now that I'm pushing myself to think, wanting to think, to process and analyze.

[zunie frost]

Nice poetry with perfect words !!! Love this

[M. Shepherd]

Thank you Zunie :)

[zunie frost]

Welcome;-)

[Gee]

Really enjoyed this and envied your skill at the same time........sweet

[M. Shepherd]

Thanks for the kind words, Gee :)

[Gee]

My pleasure m'dear,my pleasure.....

[CD Campbell]

I like the transition with each stanza. The description of the older set makes me squeamish. Do I look like that? Am I seen that way? Old age comes whether you like it or not. I see you know that by the second to the last stanza. All in all I thought this was a great work. Very descriptive dance between what's seen and personal feeling. CD

[M. Shepherd]

more the comment was on alcoholism and how it makes itself more known with age, (ya probably look and are seen just fine :)) but yes there is a concern for aging that calls for resignation at the close.
Thank you for the thoughts :)

[alifeacoustic]

Love the line middle aged winos. Nice how the world tags you a business man just because of the suit, where everything else suggests otherwise.
Had the unfortunate luck to be upgraded on a flight to the states once. Felt so out of my depth when I couldnt keep up the delusionof pretenciousness any more. And they charge more for the pleasure too?,?,? & ?
Dont believe the hype. Give me cattle class any day :)
Nicely written, wiyh tongue firmly in cheek :)

[M. Shepherd]

Cattle class absolutely haha, I love that.
Thanks for the thoughts :)

[wordman]

wouldn't change a thing ! i believe i have been there,no wait it was coach not business
where drinks was a dollar

[. serah .]

-- ah... well done... -- the "wrist trick" stanza has taken this piece to a whole new level of detail and intensity...

-- incredible stuff... -- for me, this is heartfelt social commentary and self-appraisal in the same breath and that's tough to express... but you've made direct eye-contact with the challenge and done justice... and the closing is definitely to die for...

[M. Shepherd]

Thanks m'dear, you put me in the right direction for the edits here so hats off to you. :)

[. serah .]

-- i'm almost blushing... :p -- you're very welcome, dudette... :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i can just picture you on that plane...all those rich people who are isolated or trapped in their own world, not really noticing or caring about others...
and what a way to offset them...getting in your own world of sunglasses and music...

very cool attitude in this ...

j.

[M. Shepherd]

Thank you Jacob :)