It was cold
but I had never seen a helicopter take-off before
not in person
there's something about being there
-in the flesh-
that is satisfying

It took forever to make its decision
I imagined the lack of
permission from the tower
added to its gravity
then after minutes of patient waiting
it rose

It rose as if pulled by the invisible hand of God
it picked up like a hesitant yellow dragonfly
shaky but bold
then shrugging off its initial clumsiness
it turned gracefully
and aiming at the sky
it flew off into the shining white eye of the sun

AcB 12.7.00