his war
was the great war––
the war before
our memory.
his birth reached back
nearly a century.
he was a pilot
of grand, propeller-driven
bombers––
every time he donned
his leather jacket
& his captain’s cap,
his soul smiled
because the world
was his.
the honesty &
confidence
of that smile
will never pass
away.
he flew across
oceans & around
& around the spinning
globe––
all the smells & sounds
& secrets of
everywhere
were his.
he took a wife
in swirling
love
& raised a
family––
all the romance
of life
belonged to
him.
he became
a minister
so he could fly
his parishioners
to heaven––
& when he made
his final flight––
he was radiating
love & blowing
kisses––
his soul
just couldn’t stop
smiling
Major Gerard Belanger
U.S. Air Force