The doors open.
Engines roar and wind howls
The smell of exhaust fills the space
Here stand, weighted down, with clenched bowels
The line moves forward at a dizzying pace
I make eye contact with JM and hand him my line
I pivot and jump and for a moment I'm flying
All I see is blue sky, my feet feet point at the horizon
One thousand, two thousand, three thous.....ahhh!
The chute opens with a thundering snap
Check the risers, check the canopy, watch the plane fly away
Look down at the world, spread out below like a map
Taste the air, feel the wind, get control of my sway
Undo the ties holding the weapon case on my side
Give a whoop!
No, be quiet
Professional pride
Look at how the sun reflects off the stream below me in the woods and turns it into a molten golden serpent.
Right now, if someone saw my eyes tear up I'd blame it on the wind
Oh, how long until I can do this again?