Flying

There used to be romance in flying,
the friendly skies had seats worth buying.
To get away, what could be better
than take-off as a cool jet-setter?

We used to find our liberation
in a Super Constellation.
Later came the first class heaven
upstairs in a seven-four-seven.

There was a time of flying grace
when you could stretch in your leg space,
no need to beg the prior row, “Please,
tilt back gently, save my knees.”

Once air line brought some pride to mind
and not the throngs you wait behind
to check your tickets and I.D.,
standing shoeless for security.

Now, bankrupt, merged, de-regulated,
union and fuel cost inflated,
Pan Am, Eastern, TWA
no longer wing the skies today.

No, flying’s not what it used to be –
romance is now banality.
What once inspired anticipation
has now become just transportation.