Poem Analysis: No Fly Plane
NO FLY ZONE
A senator of capitol hill, and decorated war hero, gives the order to shoot down a private plane. This has been the third violation over the Capitol within a month
"This has got to stop! I've had it with these crazies making a circus of this place... Well here's the price of the ticket. Shoot the damn thing down... an example has got to be made”
To his horror and regret, it is piloted by his precocious grandson. A child of 12, who has taken the plane up, with intent of surprising his grandfather at lunch.
The grandfather flew bombing raids over Saigon in the war. After discharge he owned a small fleet of private planes, and hired them out for corporate use.
He eventually went into politics and over the course of his career …show more content…
he rose to the seat of senator. Now speaker of the house. He is a native of DC, and has lived there all his life.
His grandson idolizes him and loves to hear his stories of the war and flying.
The grandfather is more than anxious to oblige.
His own son never had taken interest in his war stories or his love of aviation. Thus it’s only natural the senator lavish all his affection on his grandson.
He's the boss at the capitol, a pet name given by his colleagues, subordinents and staff.
He runs it like it were his house, always knowing the least little happening.
'You got to check with the boss,' is a common phrase heard throughout the halls of the Capitol.
The only other obsession besides Washington politics is his grandson Billy. A boy he loves to say, has the best of his genes.
He says so usually in an insinuating slight to his own son. Made in one of their many disputes over some trifle matter or affair.
His grandmother adores him. But is always chiding her husband of filling the boy’s head with exaggerations.
"You know, you really are impossible Bill”
These go unheeded, but merely enhances the tales of aviation heroism. He sees in his grandson the character he wished for in his own son.
The weekends are special, it's when they two go out to his private air strip. A large stretch of flat land leveled for that purpose, where a few of his crafts are still
extant.
The senator has three planes parked there in a large barn converted into a bunker. Most of the complex having been dismantled.
The drive down is without conversation.
Billy (his namesake) is always fascinated by the country side.
He's seen the same things out the window a hundred times. But his face turns in silence to the passing fields, as though he were seeing them for the first.
The senator looks over at his grandson in private smiles and a grandfather's pride…
"Now Billy... Where's the ignition button on a F-14?"
The child's guess is correct
"Hun huh... and what's the preliminary procedure before engaging it...?"
Billy thinks for awhile, still peering in delight at the passing countryside. He turns with an enchanted grin on his face and blurts out the right answer.
He leans forward to watch the road ahead disappear under the wheels of the ford pickup...
A senator of capitol hill, and decorated war hero, gives the order to shoot down a private plane. This has been the third violation over the Capitol within a month
"This has got to stop! I've had it with these crazies making a circus of this place... Well here's the price of the ticket. Shoot the damn thing down... an example has got to be made”
To his horror and regret, it is piloted by his precocious grandson. A child of 12, who has taken the plane up, with intent of surprising his grandfather at lunch.
The grandfather flew bombing raids over Saigon in the war. After discharge he owned a small fleet of private planes, and hired them out for corporate use.
He eventually went into politics and over the course of his career …show more content…
he rose to the seat of senator. Now speaker of the house. He is a native of DC, and has lived there all his life.
His grandson idolizes him and loves to hear his stories of the war and flying.
The grandfather is more than anxious to oblige.
His own son never had taken interest in his war stories or his love of aviation. Thus it’s only natural the senator lavish all his affection on his grandson.
He's the boss at the capitol, a pet name given by his colleagues, subordinents and staff.
He runs it like it were his house, always knowing the least little happening.
'You got to check with the boss,' is a common phrase heard throughout the halls of the Capitol.
The only other obsession besides Washington politics is his grandson Billy. A boy he loves to say, has the best of his genes.
He says so usually in an insinuating slight to his own son. Made in one of their many disputes over some trifle matter or affair.
His grandmother adores him. But is always chiding her husband of filling the boy’s head with exaggerations.
"You know, you really are impossible Bill”
These go unheeded, but merely enhances the tales of aviation heroism. He sees in his grandson the character he wished for in his own son.
The weekends are special, it's when they two go out to his private air strip. A large stretch of flat land leveled for that purpose, where a few of his crafts are still
extant.
The senator has three planes parked there in a large barn converted into a bunker. Most of the complex having been dismantled.
The drive down is without conversation.
Billy (his namesake) is always fascinated by the country side.
He's seen the same things out the window a hundred times. But his face turns in silence to the passing fields, as though he were seeing them for the first.
The senator looks over at his grandson in private smiles and a grandfather's pride…
"Now Billy... Where's the ignition button on a F-14?"
The child's guess is correct
"Hun huh... and what's the preliminary procedure before engaging it...?"
Billy thinks for awhile, still peering in delight at the passing countryside. He turns with an enchanted grin on his face and blurts out the right answer.
He leans forward to watch the road ahead disappear under the wheels of the ford pickup...