for Alfaro

I fell asleep
On the airplane
With your words
Imbedded in my brain
Taking hold
Expanding
Until the cadence
Of your voice
Was intertwined
With words
Catapulting forward

How can such wings
Be strong enough
To carry the weight
At such a slow speed?

I awoke to pressure
Between my ears
Air pressure
Word pressure
A third pressure
To find something
On which to write
It all down!
The plane climbs
Invisible stairs
In the air
The attendant
Pierces me
As I reach
For my bag
I take the magazine
From the seatback
Scribbling words
Across the South Georgia Island
Thoughts across Russia
Mongolia to China
And Micronesia
Until I have reached
The end of the world
With your words
On my brain
Your voice in my ear
A faceless, soundless voice
That won’t leave
Me alone.

Aleathia Drehmer