A Deathly Silence

A DEATHLY SILENCE The passenger airliner A huge metallic albatross Flying over Krakatoa ‘This is the captain speaking There is no cause for alarm We have a slight problem… Hands grip armrests tight Ears listen to engine sounds Eyes look for swarthy men …..a cloud of volcanic ash’ One by one the engines Splutter and shut down There hangs a deathly silence A wave of consternation Someone stifles a scream An old lady opens a Bible A fellow swears and curses A young girl starts to weep A man writes a goodbye note ‘This is the captain speaking We are on a glide path. Hoping to restart engines’ There hangs a deathly silence A young couple clasp hands Two strangers do the same The old lady reads her Bible A hostess with painted smile The seat belt signs flashing A child’s pitiful, sobbing cry An unpowered flying coffin A silent metallic albatross With a belly full of people A lament for a life gone by A prayer is softly spoken A sigh of despair is heaved ‘This is the captain speaking Cabin crew please prepare For an emergency landing’ There hangs a deathly silence Necks craning to peer out A view that yields nothing Except a sparkling ocean Water rises to greet them The man finishes his note The old lady shuts her Bible The albatross skims the water Number One engine starts Hopes are raised once more There hangs a deathly silence ………………… A Bible floats on the surface A note flutters in the air Smoke drifts on the breeze….. There hangs a deathly silence