Thursday 10 July 2003

WALKABOUTSVERSE 40 OF 230

Poem 40 of 230:  EFFICIENCY

On a flight from San Fran. to New York,
    One hour our plane did balk,
As on full taxiways we dallied
    While competing-planes were freed.

Yet, as I looked around the cabin,
    Sometime during all this stalling,
It was sadly evident to me
    That far too many seats were free.

Then, after a late takeaway tea,
    I turned on the New York T.V.,
And saw NASA staff acting like stars,
    Re landing Pathfinder on Mars.

Yet, walking Manhattan the next day,
    I saw tens with nowhere to stay,
And I wondered just how much housing,
    For the poor, that space-wealth could bring.

(C) David Franks 2003