Flotsam and Jetsam
Once the paper would disappear
From the printer tray only to
Reappear in flight.
Fleets of aircraft
Alchemically creased by small fingers
In the back of classrooms or in church pews.
I never thought to ask what he thought while
Taking aim at the horizon
Last year when clearing out
Childhood’s flotsam and jetsam,
We found a book of paper airplane instructions.
It’s possible the book preserves
Forgotten craft like a hangar, but
I have not checked its pages.
4 thoughts on "Flotsam and Jetsam"
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Beautiful memory poem, very poignant.
Thanks, it still makes me weepy.
I agree with Kevin. And what a perfect title. I like how you repeated it.
That title perfectly describes the former state of my son’s bedroom!