Return Flight

 

I'll try to put myself

inside the head

of a friend 

from Viet Nam,

who lives in 

Miami and Naples

when she comes to 

Grand Haven

or Traverse City

during a winter

in West Michigan

to experience

for the first time

snow crystals 

falling on her face

and how wind chill

feels on her skin

when the temperature

is eight below zero

and the wind is

blowing at twenty-four

miles per hour

gusting to thirty

and the stubborn

overcast has persisted

for nearly five weeks.

Then if she

stays a few days

and is patient

enough to listen

while dressed

in flannel and fleece

I will lift up the

handy mitten map

of Lower Michigan

conveniently located

at the end

of my left arm

and proceed

to explain

"Lake Effect" snow

as she's reaching

into her purse

to check the

departure time

of her

return flight.

© 2024 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Townsend Park - Kent County - Michigan

2. Home Woods - Cannonsburg, Michigan