Baruch November: Our Captain Speaking

What if every time our lives began to tremble

with pending danger— the oncoming 

loss of job, spouse, great head 

of hair— a captain spoke 

above the static

in a practiced voice, telling us 

it is just

some turbulence, a storm 

from the East, 

heading South?

.

He could advise the crew to pass out

soft drinks of consolation,

hard pretzels curved to the shape 

of life’s perilous twists.

.

And then, we might believe in him, 

understand he needs us 

to remain calm,  

not to give into throes of panic, 

as he guides us down

the impossibly low ceiling 

of our descent.

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Copyright 2019 Baruch November. First published in Bar Mitzvah Dreams published by Main Street Rag.