by Chris Bullard
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AI-generated graphic by NightCafé for The New Verse News. |
At the terminal the limit was one idea per person.
Some tried to sneak on with extras.
They were turned away or deported.
The captain half-apologized saying,
“We have to cut back and save weight with a storm coming up.”
The wine steward passed by as I stowed
my idea in the overhead compartment.
He whistled, “That’s a beaut.”
“Thank you,” I said, “I’ve had it since high school.”
After we deplaned, we passed through Customs
My idea was given a visa. Other ideas were denied entry.
I could see them wheeled away out back where
they were left in case of an emergency need for thought.
I secretly mourned for all those ideas that had been lost,
but I knew that my idea was always the best.
Wrapping it in a government-issued blanket, I went
looking for an official service center to register my idea
so the authorities knew it had a good home.
Chris Bullard is a native of Jacksonville, FL. His work has appeared in such publications as Rattle, Pleiades, Hole in the Head Review and Scientific American. Moonstone Press published his book, Arguments For: New and Selected Poems this year. He was nominated this year for the Pushcart Prize. He lives in Philadelphia, PA and is currently in hospice care for lung disease.
