the agony of almost

bags careening

handles slamming against thighs

frantic heel clicks shattering

the lethargy of mundane travel routines

excuse me sorry trying to make a connection sorry



then the customs line:

slower

than the last drop of honey

crawling

down a frozen container.

watching seconds

tick

by



spark of hope:

bored hands ushering us to a different line.



untangling ourselves from cloth barriers

fumbling with haphazard papers

yes no no no Canadian Australia nine days yes thank you



circling the baggage carousel, frenzied vultures

tensed to swoop in on our hapless quarry-



there.



hallways stairs escalators elevators

wrong way

downstairs across and up.

come on hurry almost there



10 minutes until departure:

pleading airport personnel

‘our plane was delayed an hour, the next plane home leaves in ten hours’

empty eyes, mechanical smiles, tired words

begging shrieking threatening

unfeeling ‘sorry’s



a burst of noise:

outside the window,



our plane

takes

off