Landing in Philadelphia

There is a certain altitude
where you can see the curve of the Earth,
and I don't think we were there - but,
I could feel it -
the arcing horizon,
the slight bend of light
at 30,000 feet - descending -
I could feel
the change in cabin pressure,
my ears popping,
turbulence,
and I thought, sure,
we could die like this - and
I would never have said
anything.

Or maybe,
in the throws of tumbling
luggage
and exploding fine-tipped pens,
I would throw away
the scribbled paper and
say something -
anything -
just because I think you should know how that book ends
and that you are interesting
and that I would like to get to know you
and that you are worth the risk.

But when the shaking stopped,
and the pressure came down,
and I was writing by your reading light
at 12,000 feet,
while the pilot said we were
coming into Philadelphia,
I couldn't feel the curve of the Earth
anymore. I couldn't feel anything at all.
And I thought, sure,
we could live like this - and
I would never have said
anything.