The Pageant in the Air

There’s pressure, and an upward surge
as we pulled free from earth.
enwrapped in gray we climbed through rain
enshrouding Dallas-Fort Worth.

At thirty thousand we topped the deck
and ‘lo what did I see?
A kaleidoscope of figures
made up of clouds ’round me!

A cowboy on a dragon
raced a mermaid on a whale.
The winged pig soared sideways
as a turkey fanned his tail.

A huddled gnome sat and stared
as the Boeing passed him by.
Is it my imagination
or was that a twinkle in his eye?

Kubla Khan towers mightily
above his fluffy horde,
a camel kneels behind him
lonely and ignored.

The lesser creatures perked up a bit
as through the port I peered;
A walrus sunning on the beach,
the dog with hairy ears.

A sea anemone gracefully danced,
its trailing tentacles roved.
A frog garumped, then land appeared
as through the deck we dove.

Once on the ground I looked above
up to the clouds so fair,
But all I saw were fragments of
the pageant in the air.