for my dad, the quiet captain of life <br /> <br /> <br />Why is my heart surprised? <br />I can break gravity <br />Skipping that happy child dance <br />Then I remember that blue tag <br />Hanging from my windshield mirror... <br /> <br />Why is my heart surprised? <br />Walking hand and hand with my dad <br />Delighting in those wondrous aero-antics... <br />Then I recall that those Blue Angels <br />Gave way to flights on the Wings of Eagles... <br /> <br />Why is my heart surprised? <br />Walking together each afternoon <br />On those Castaway docks <br />A strawberried toddler reciting, <br />Hammerhead, Bull Dolphin, Weakfish, Grouper <br />Then I remember my Captain sold his vessels <br />No more are those rocking tuna towers <br />Seen from those Sandy Shores of Miami.. <br />Farewell, Spindle beak, Farewell Noble Shark... <br /> <br />Why is my heart surprised? <br />Flying in that squirrelly little tail-dragger <br />No more Luscombe tales, no more Eastern Flights <br />No more shouting in that noisy sky... <br />Piper Cub two o'clock! <br />Then I remember Carcinoid <br />Grounded my dear pilot.. <br /> <br />Why is my heart surprised? <br />Suddenly, my heart caught my mind.. <br />Today I recall...sadly, <br />My head informed my heart <br />I am no longer skipping that happy child dance <br />Instead...suddenly my heart <br />Is turkey ~ necked, old and tired... <br />Farewell, dear captain, Farewell, dear daddy... <br /> <br /> <br />(May 3,2005 ~ Bell's Island, North Carolina)<br /><br />Debora Short<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/why-is-my-heart-surprised/
