Travel Etiquette

My dad once told me -

let’s start over -

My dad has told me

on numerous occasions

that when it comes to travel

plans, the ones involving planes,

I should always be a few hours

ahead of schedule, just in case.

It’s taken more than a couple

journeys flying Han (pew pew)

before the lesson held on

   and settled in the eaves (coo’ coo’)

of my brain. Which is insane,

  I know.

I’ve stowed away a memory

where, at a tender age

of barely three years old,

I was at the opposite side

      of the window pane.

My grandparents took me

to the city, for what only

God knows, but we were there,

enjoying a side of Jollibee.

        The only thing eating

away at me was the possibility

that I get to see my parents again.

Why else would we be in the city?

Right? ...Right?

Three hours turn to four, then five,

at which point it was obvious

in the smallness of my mind

that we were not here for my parents.

On that note, don’t do me dirty like this -

            let me rephrase -

don’t leave me high and dry,

waiting for a plane of romantic

 reciprocation to land

that you clearly said

                 you would fly

on and that you can’t

wait to see me again.

‘Cause I ain’t waiting

at the nearest Jollibee

just to get my expectations

thrown in the garbage bin.

Besides, I’m vegetarian.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy New Year! Let's open the year with a poem I performed for the last CDO Poetry Night in December 2018. Cheers!