FU - Vonnie's Poem

Talent

Random FU Atrocity

This poem appeared in the December 1999 edition of Skyline (now ASM).

Skydive

We start down the runway
not so fast at first
then faster and faster
(ground rushing past)
faster than one would
ordinarily dare
going full tilt until
we're lifting
ground falling from us
runway receding
we're in the air
awed by the magic
thrilled by the madness
remembering the risk of
the first thousand feet.

Over a thousand feet
I lean back looking out
on slowly sinking
slowly shrinking
trees and tracks
haybales, fences
cows and creeks
model farm, toy town
plan view pattern of
paddocks and houses
a different perspective
on dams and shadows
everything flattening
and contracting
as we go higher and wider.

Down there everything
seems so silent
make-believe
remote, unreal
our small plane drones up
steadily into
the ever-expanding sky
wings catch sunlight
(a different attitude)
ultra-blue stretches
between the cloudwhite
from here we can see
to the edge of the earth
motionless in motion
in the space before jump run.

Ten thousand feet
last minute gear check
a few deep breaths
and I open the door
cold, cold air rush
hits me, holds me
head out, looking down
to the land below
head up, looking out
to the endless distance
eyes on the horizon
I dive into the sky.

Yvonne Deering

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This page last modified: December 3, 2006.