Dawn
sun peeks above the horizon
billowy white clouds dangle high
mist hovers low to the ground
rainbow colors stretch
as the gasses flow
into the swelling round balloon
a straw basket lay
on damp long grass
in wait for our journey
we board, listen, smell the fumes
to our surprise
bottles of champagne
black caviar

We lift off
as the engines roar
we greet the sun
but only for moments
we can almost touch the cotton clouds
we climb as they dance around us
dive, skip around tree tops
then swiftly surge upwards
like a gymnast's cartwheels

The gasses ease
as we gently drift toward earth
we look below
at a field of bright yellow flowers
as we put down on this soft cloth
greeted by French school children
all giggles, they stare at us
and our rainbow balloon
but what would this journey be
without an ending of champagne and caviar