Where are you heading?
A long white trail in the clear blue sky;
Glinting in the summer sun as it flys by;
I wonder where all on board are all heading;
Foreign shores, white sands they may soon be treading;
Crystal waters, lounging in the heat,
Beach walks, ocean lapping at their feet;
Eating al fresco, drinking cocktails in humid air;
Dancing and singing without a care;
Whatever their destination Iāll sit and dream;
About the white trail in the sky Iāve seen.
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Comments
Hi Tracey,
I love this, firstly because it is a lovely wistful summery piece, but mostly because it reminds me of a song.
During the Balkan conflict of the nineties I co-wrote a BBC documentary about the music of the former Yugoslavia. The last episode was about the music scene in Belgrade (which was incredible then and still is now). We finished with a band called Darkwood Dub and a song called "Potoman".
Potoman is a Serbian word that has no direct translation into English but it means "Yeah, that's just right". The lyrics are about staring at the vapour trails and wondering about where you might go, just like you're poem. The only difference being that in the nineties the only vapour trails above Belgrade were bombers taking out the bridges.Ā
Thank you for the reminder Tracey, I'm playing the album now.
Nigel
Sorry Potaman, not Potoman.
Not easy to find but it's on utube somewhere.
Iāve just listened to Potaman, what a brilliant piece of music, Nigel! The sound of it also reminds me a bit of Morcheeba, who I love. Thank you for introducing me to it x
Nigel, Iām absolutely blown away by your comment to my piece & the memory it evoked of your work for the BBC documentary. It has prompted me to listen to the song you mention & also to watch the documentary, if I can find it online. Documentaries have always been a passion of mine to as they teach us so much about so many things. Ā I am incredibly grateful for your appreciation & that it stirred a memory within you of an important piece of your own work. Itās also quite spooky as I have written a poem about planes in the sky whilst in an act of war, but seen through a childās eyes. Iāve yet to publish it. Thank you for kind words x
Hi Tracey, really glad you like Darkwood and yeah I get the Morcheeba comparison. I am afraid that you won't be able to find the documentary as we were writing it for World Service radio. We had the first two episodes recorded and were working on the third when BBC radio 4 started broadcasting "B52, Belgrade calling" about free radio during the conflict. It was felt that there would be a clash. Seems that the BBC never let each other know what they are doing.
That said I was co-writing with a Serbian academic called Dr. Milan Todorovich who has become a great mate and I was best man at his wedding. Always an up side.
Nigel.
oh I am looking forward to your piece through a childs eye;
"Look mummy, there's an airoplane up in the sky" Pink Floyd
Such a shame as Iām sure it would have been a brilliant documentary to watch ?
Dear Tracey,
I just read your lovely poem, and it brought back vivid memories of my childhood.Ā Ā
I grew up in Dayton, Ohio, right next to Fairborn, home of the largest Air Force Base in the World, Wright Patterson.Ā As a young boy I would see the same white plumage that you describe, coming from the numerous planes that were constantly in the skies above us.Ā As an extra added bonus, we were the first ones to hear planes breaking the sound barrier, which seemed like loud thunderclaps.
Thank you for this beautiful work, and the memories it has brought back to me.
Peace and love,
Larry xxx
Hi Larry, thank you so much for your lovely comment on this piece & the memories it evoked for you ? Thatās the wonderful thing about poetry, how it can relate to people. The way you describe your memory of the planes & especially the ones breaking the sound barrier evoked a memory of mine too, when I heard it the first time as a child. Frightened me half to death lol. Thank you once again for your appreciation ??
Dear Tracey,
It is so nice, that we both evoked memories for one another.Ā Ā
Thank you for your lovely response to my comment.
Peace and Love,
Larry xxx