Are You On This Flight?
Sagamartha sat, like a Buddha
in the misty ‘V’ of plane and wing
and we watched in soft air-plane hush
as the Jet-Stream rushed the blasted summit
A serenity of orange monks sit, hand-clasped
as people excitedly juggle cameras
It is a momentary flight of eternal vision -
not all the passengers are aboard
We must measure ourselves
against the frantic -
and the placid calm
Stone is changed by air
ice polished, snow hammered,
and the sun warms a tear
The plane has landed
but the mind has taken off
***
Notes: in 2005, The Butts - two couples who enjoyed adventure hols - went to Nepal. We hoped for a helicopter ride over the Himalayas, but it was old and broke down. So we went in a jet, before the crack of dawn. Even the nouveau-riche Asians were quiet, except for moments when everyone, including the monks, went "ahhhhhh". To see the jet stream driving that 200mph wind over the peake you are impressed - plus you resolve never to climb it:)