032015   032024

The London to Boston leg
the end of the day begun in Bangelore
I had paid the add-on fee to sit behind 1st class
extra room to stretch and sleep
the library director of the P.E.M. chatting softly across the isle
the human load shuffles and twists with their carry-ons
the largest brute dominates the seat next to mine
squeezing in at last he plants onto the arm-rest 
his arm on mine
he leaves it there.
My arm began pressing against his
in words it would have been
"Move onto your own side".
He’s a boulder of resistance
at last I say “Please move your arm”
he ignores me and looking at him I say
“If your seat's too small the flight attendant might find another
for you”.
Now he's roused 
his forearm is a shank of determination until at last
Boston lights the dark Atlantic night and then he stands
he introduces himself to the seat behind
he’s returning from a Bruins exhibition
and the fore-arm fighting ends.