Thoughts of Burtis Dolan: A passenger on the fated Hindenburg.

Me and Morris

                Starboard Lounge;

                                Smoking, laughing, debating.

Enjoying the

                Once-in-a-lifetime

                                Journey across the sky.

Anxious for home,          

                Ropes unfurled,

                                New York, Chicago, Kenesaw Trail.

Ship half full,

                Bad weather’s ride;

                                Late, too far behind.

Whoosh – what was that?

                The force of the wind.

                                Nah, nothing to fear.

Kapow – what was that?

                The sound of a gun?

                                Nah, can’t be that.

Wait – we’re going down.

                Oh, my love, Mildred

                                Forgive my betrayal.

My darling Mildred

                Your gift in my hand.

                                Your rosary, your prayer, my shame.

Morris yells,

                Jump! And he descends.

                                The dark, the wet, the unknown.

I follow,

                Into the burning abyss.

                                The flame, the smoke, the morass.

I stumble,

                Oh Morris, come help me.

                                It’s all your fault.

This chance-of-a-lifetime

                You promised.

                                The flames, the pain, the smell

Of molten metal,

                Burning flesh

                                Recede, to no more.

And I’m home,

                Kennesaw Trail.

                                The rosary in her hand.

Black veil,

                Tears in her eyes

                                The flag, the salute, the descent.

I’m one of the faceless,

                But I had a face.

A name on a manifest.

                Of a tragic day.