Thursday, March 17, 2011

Searched

I go along fine through the line with my friend,
at the Milwaukee airport up north. I hum a tune,
walk through check point, when the alarm screetches

and wails. They pull me aside, explain what they’ll do,
search me from head to foot. I stand at attention
while she puts on her gloves, eyes wide
while she covers each inch. Then inside my pants
to make sure there’s no bomb, under and around

my breasts. One last insult, she wipes down her gloves,
puts the offending pad in machine. I stood there
perplexed til the result came through, no doubt it shows

I’m Okay. I walk off in a daze, head held low, shoes
scrunched under my arms. I remember the thought
that came to me then, about how friendly they were

in the north. I walk past the shops to the left and the right,
I search where I might get a smoke. I see the cigar bar,
was jolted then, with remembrance that I don’t even smoke.

23 comments:

Peggy said...

Judy you have managed to give this a humorous twist. Really quite outrageous though. I wonder why that airport was so vigilant. Someone did ask to look at my knitting needles the last time I traveled though.

Hyde Park Poetry Palace said...

love the imagery,
beautiful humor.

Anonymous said...

It is a different world for sure. Well penned!

gautami tripathy said...

good write!

lost in a maze

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

another beautiful creation from you.

way to go.

Here is My Entry, Thanks for reading!

flaubert said...

Judy, at least you have some humor, about the wretched airport scene.

Pamela

Laurie Kolp said...

Funny and sad... it's a shame to have to go through this in America.

Mike Patrick said...

I'm waiting for the reinstitution of common sense. Where did it go?

Anonymous said...

Funny account of a universally dismal experience. Vb

Tumblewords: said...

Sometimes one just needs a smoke! Nice work!

vivinfrance said...

I am full of fellow-feeling. Gulp!

anthonynorth said...

We need a sense of humour nowadays, I'm afraid.
Nicely done.

Anonymous said...

a hard thing to endure... harder to decide where to draw the line between one person's embarrassment, or humiliation even, versus the safety of a planeload of souls.

i love the ending!

Mary said...

This made me smile, Judy. I don't think I would be offended at any search though. I have had some pretty thorough ones. Maybe notr this thorough though. LOL.

Judy Roney said...

I'm with you, Mary. I really don't mind it but I have to say this shocked me. I thought the xray machine was revealing enough. LOL

Short Poems said...

Wrapped up so beautifully!

Anonymous said...

So invasive. I'm not looking forward to the new scanning process! Makes me want to drive everywhere.

http://liv2write2day.wordpress.com/2011/03/17/textures-response-to-monday-morning-writing-prompt/

nan said...

You have painted the picture and put it through the Xray machine. Nicely done.

Madeleine Begun Kane said...

What a wonderful poem! At least something good came of that invasion of your privacy!

irene said...

I like the comic relief in end, releases all the tension.

Maggie said...

LOL. Wonderful.

Tilly Bud said...

I didn't see the humour because I was appalled by the reality. I haven't experienced this yet and I'm not sure I'll fly again if this is what it's like.

Great response to the prompt.

Anonymous said...

I agree this is so funny and so well written...but OOooh! It's just not right!