Still Life

Still Life

Victor Lima 6
Awaits on the vast cement
Prairie that was the flight line at
Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort, South Carolina.

Ponderous white fuel drop tanks
Detract from the sleek body, like a fat clown suit
If worn by a Ballerina.

Air hose for start and ladder for
Ascension to the cockpit lay randomly scattered
Beneath and sprawling near the right wing.

Abandoned wagons for hauling the internal
Organs for this forlorn bird idle in the near background.

Rows of South Carolina pines, dwarf minute buildings
Tracing a framed edge to the deserted
Miles from where our A-4 Skyhawk rests.

The markings proclaim VL 0016, the property of
The United States of America,
The U. S. Marine Corps,
Assigned to VMA (Marine Attack Squadron) 331,
The tactical call sign Victor Lima 6

Red markings warn of the jet intake,
Yellow rescue arrow points to the outside canopy release,
Black letters under the canopy name the pilot.

Pilot and bird superseded by new models,
One hundred fifteen combat missions ancient history,
Forty years sped fast forward, and yet -

A contrail of a high flight jet aircraft
Drawn the width of the clouded blue still life
Whispers for Major Acott and Victor Lima 6 to come,
Fly, startle and amaze one last time.

Richard D. Acott