A Pilot's Poem

The Captain and I, both roused from sleep,
Deadheaded to Omaha, where the snow piled deep.
Maintenance sent us on a foolÂ?s trip indeed,
To ferry a CRJ with flaps eight degrees.

The takeoff was normal, the climb out smooth,
It felt like we followed tracks or grooves.
While climbing through ten, I reached for the knob,
Then the computer cried out and my heart began to throb.

The command said Â?ClimbÂ? and we promptly did
But you wouldnÂ?t believe the traffic we missed.
A blur of brown followed by flashes of red,
A familiar red cap adorned the pilotÂ?s head!

The captain and I exchanged worried glances
And questioned how to call out traffic which also prances.
I reached for a rag to clean my glasses
When a voice came through my ears like molasses.

Â?I meant not to scare you,Â? the voice said aloud,
Â?IÂ?m out with a camera to check out my route.Â?
On Comm 2 we struck up a chatter,
And I missed CenterÂ?s calls to query the matter.

Back on Freq with Claus, he kindly shared
details of his flight ops as never before dared.
He cried, Â?On flight crews and hosties, who work through the night,
To reunite families for grandmaÂ?s delights.

Â?On agents and rampers, who handle the gifts,
Too numerous and weighty for my sleigh to lift.
Â?On Purple and Brown, for much the same reasons,
I outsourced much work, this holiday season.

Â?If you excuse me, thereÂ?s still work for me,
The mapping of many houses is still left, you see.Â?
He banked away and was gone in a flash,
As he covered the country in a mad dash.

Thanks my friends, for your service and care,
Ensuring all the loved ones arrive without scare.
You play a big role as deputized elves,
Ensuring family members see more than themselves.

To all my comrades, uniformed in black and blue,
This holiday message goes out to you.
Whether in a hotel or on a red-eye all night,
Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good flight!

Copyright 2008 Jeremy King, all rights reserved.