Last Seen Heading West

Last Seen Heading West

Noel Laflin

9-14-16

Thick bamboo framed our kite,

A bedspread covered all,

It stood six feet from tip to top,

Criminee! It was tall.

No fragile string would hold this beast,

So fishing line was sought,

‘It ought to hold,’ we said aloud,

And kept our fingers crossed.

Then four young boys from Flower Street,

Did launch their falcon off,

And so it soared to rapid heights,

On hidden winds aloft.

We laughed with glee at neighbors who,

Had scoffed at our attempt,

But neighbors had the final say,

As line first broke – then went …

Of last we saw, this kite of ours,

It sallied forth due west,

Freed from the grip of those four boys,

Who’d lost their youthful quest.