As in Heaven

We know the sounds of aircraft
Powered by jet engines
Crossing our old city

Each dawn the first flight to Majorca
Before most workers get to work
Whisking off men and women
Where sunshine means warmth
Not just bright light

The mid-morning practise runs
From Lakenheath
Paired pilots burning fuel
As they tumble and turn
We know the crack of a sonic boom
When a too keen, too fast Top Gun
Gets it wrong
Not who we'd choose to fly
Multi-million dollar machines
F-35As of the 495th Squadron
Immodestly labelled 'The Valkyries'
Dancing over our homes and schools

We can complain of the shuddering noise
To the air-base Commander
Of the 48th Liberty Fighter Wing
Who writes back to apologise
And explain
Combat readiness demands
Preparedness to fly at any time
Any day
Of the working week

I wonder
Who do the Iranian schoolgirls' parents contact
About their children's unjust detention
After their school has ended
For the unforeseeable future?

Our weather, sunny, cool
Strato-cirrus veiling the upper atmosphere
Clouding the source
Of a low-pitch rumble
Filling the sky's darkest corners
The sound of death and destruction
Echoing from Iran
As promised by Hegseth
Blaspheming Jesus
In his war-monger's prayers
As all evil is delivered
And Trump's feeble will done

~

CLP 19/03/2026