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Dear Harri Emery Airport

By Bonnie McMillen

Fond memories of our time together
dance and break into my present day.
 
The drone of a small plane,
the excitement of a landing,
the rush of air as it hits the grass.
I know you remember those summers of
freedom, beauty, and wonder.
Exotic planes, as from another world,
taxi into and out of the hangar.
The magic moments of heat, blue sky, air rushing,
pushing my tiny body over in the tall grass
at the edge of the strip.
 
Now, many years have passed and you
are no more.
The airport is now a university.
By some small miracle the huge hangar remains.
Instead of highly polished and colorful planes,
college students and staff
taxi in and out of the hangar.
The blue sky, heat, and freedom
of movement remains.

 

Bonnie McMillen is a native of Bradford and spent her younger years playing around the Harri Emery airport on Dorothy Lane. While working as Director of Student Health at Pitt-Bradford, she became interested in writing poetry and short stories. This interest has continued into a busy retirement. Abecedarian, McKean County 1955, Tales from the Female Crypt

Filed Under: 2021 Issue, Poetry

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