HMCS Bonaventure, 1966,
off Montevideo,
alone on a darkened flight deck
watching stars cascade
into a southern sea.
Bergen, 1963,
standing on Mount Fløyen,
amazed by the tiny city below,
gazing down the fjord,
protected by green hills.
Srinigar, 1986,
the shikara driver
poled his craft slowly
along the quiet water streets
beneath the bowing chinar trees.
Flying over the Alps, 1980,
proud, iconic Matterhorn
not far beneath our wings:
mountain sentinels fearlessly protecting
small verdant Switzerland.
Valetta, Malta, 1985,
old fortifications framing
the perfect harbour
rimmed with small boats,
talismanic eyes painted on their bows.
Rishikesh, upper Ganges, 1997,
with the scent of local charas
providing an olfactory mantra
for pilgrims off-loading bad karma
in the holy river.
Greyhavens, Jeddore Harbour,2016,
the old man and his beagle
listen to the birds in the pines,
sensing other horizons, shimmering,
just a reality away.
* Brain Damage, by Pink Floyd
