6 degrees of separation
2 degrees in New Zealand
everybody knew someone on the aircraft
a scenic flight deceived by a trick of polar light
flat light flattened the horizon – to infinity
they never saw Mount Erebus
257 dead. No survivors.
The doctor said everything was fine
and gave me two forms.
One for the laboratory
one for the dentist.
The dental surgeon hummed while he worked
signed the paper with a flourish
cheerfully flippant about his expertise
“ this is in case you become a smear on Mount Erebus.”
For the story behind a story click Backstage
Orphaned Islands (Un)poetry 