#helicopter
They call it a chopper
For the way the blades slice the air,
For the way the sound slices your eardrum
And minces your gut as it approaches.
Chopped could describe the exterior,
Banged-up in a way where
you almost feel safer drowning
than being lifted into its cage.
Chopped are the words
Spoken by the coastguard
As they try to secure you; you can’t
Distinguish their voices from the wind,
From the drum in your ears.
They call it a chopper,
And expect you to be happy
To see it.
Feb 19
Feb 19, 2026 at 4:07 PM UTC
On the road outside
Of the fence
The Border Collie hears
The call of the
Doggies
On the inside
Enclosed behind
The wooden fence
The Alaskan malamute
The Drever, the Poodle
Bustle the edge of the barrier
Bark, bark, bark
A cacophony
Let us out
Let us come with you
Pledging to obey,
The Collie
On hind legs
Of a towering stature
Lifts a paw
Finds the latch
The gate creaks open
Uncorking in celebration
They run in gleeful circles
Hounds to escape artists
Unbound and free from tyranny
Of a heartless master
Marking their new territory
Of tree trunks
Sidewalks and fields
Have you ever seen
Such jubilation
Mirth and gaiety
Wagging their tails
Like helicopter blades
With gail force glee
They take off
Like upside down rain
Up, up, up
Every which way
Friends forever
Boundless canines
In search of the next
immured pooch who waits
For the musketeers
Jan 21, 2025
Jan 21, 2025 at 9:55 AM UTC
I love it when Lisa and I take our show out and, on the road,
like this twilight helicopter flight, from New Haven to LaGuardia.
I’m so excited about tonight, it’s possible that I might implode.
The rotor blades started twirling, our luggage had been stowed,
the pilot asked Lisa. “Ready for takeoff?” Lisa grinned saying, “Let's go!”
He gave her a quick and crisp salute and the engine noise started to grow.
As we went wheels-up, the whirly-birds warning lights began to strobe.
Yep, It’s the start of November recess and we’re changing our zip code.
We rise like a balloon, at first, until the harbor comes into view.
The engines were screaming like jets, when the whole world turned askew,
I’ve done numerous take-offs like this, but it still feels like I might spew.
Above the rear cockpit window, there’s an air-speed indicator that looks like a clock.
With a quick turn over Yale’s campus, we’re going 90 as we steak over the docks.
As we ascend into the night, the twinkling lights of New Haven seem to shrink.
We’re swiftly gaining altitude, this quivering contraption, moves faster than you’d think.
As the red numbers settle at 260, the vibrations have all but ceased,
The engine noise is gone as well, as we race up, in the darkness and out over the sea.
I try not to think of the inky black water, how far we would fall and how quickly we’d sink.
Long Island Sound glittered, like fractured glass, under the waxing crescent moon.
The forever-blue sky was hosting a large, fake-star, because Venus was glowing there too.
That dark almost-orbit was prettier than the infinity-of-lights we’ll see on Park Avenue.
We’ll be meeting Peter’s flight from Geneva - a surprise - he doesn’t have a clue.
As the lights of New York become pronounced, so does my excitement that he’ll be around.
I’m sure we’ll get a moment of quiet intimacy at the LaGuardia international arrivals lounge.
Nov 20, 2023
Nov 20, 2023 at 8:55 AM UTC
the clatter of machinery
invades my bedroom
as rotors defeat gravity
for as long as fuel allows
someone's on the run
headed for the woods
at the back of my house
why do they think the
darkness of trees and
undergrowth will hide
them from infrared's
all seeing eye, their
journey to freedom
is about to end dramatically
under spotlight
I've got to get up for work
in under four hours
Aug 11, 2022
Aug 11, 2022 at 9:07 AM UTC
sky is the limit
first historic flight on Mars
~ ingenuity
Mark Toney © 2021
Apr 19, 2021
Apr 19, 2021 at 9:24 AM UTC
delaminated
I've broken free
the blade undone
cover me with a round of fire
and I'll meet you
on the landing strip
but where's the safety net?
where are the professionals?
it's not war that chills my spine
this time
it's the final take
Dec 15, 2022
Dec 15, 2022 at 9:56 AM UTC
The metal floor is slicky
Desert heat amplifies
The odor of ***** and blood
Mostly empty IV bags hang on their stands
Packaging from numerous medical supplies
Litter the ground
Quickly and carefully I clean and spray and sweep and scrub
I sort and pack and refit and reorganize
Preparing the chopper for the next call
Lives were saved
But
I don’t know what will become of them
Some will leave the Army
Some will come back here
Some will do the job the enemy couldn’t do
And take their own lives
I can’t think about that
This is hard enough
Feb 10, 2020
Feb 10, 2020 at 11:02 AM UTC
Turning
Burning
Learning
Yearning
Blackhawk turning, HIT, cockpit burning
Troops learning of war, yearning for home
Feb 7, 2020
Feb 7, 2020 at 10:16 AM UTC
the helicopter
like a dragonfly
in the air
Jan 18, 2018
Jan 18, 2018 at 6:47 PM UTC
A heave of the earth.
Hillsides of structures collapsing;
cascades of rock and vegetation;
liquid shifting of terrain;
the silent screams
of trapped and torn people.
We turned towards the worst damage.
Rotors, engine, and radio were the
Only sounds.
Jan 5, 2017
Jan 5, 2017 at 4:42 PM UTC
Helicopter in the air
Searching for those on the run
Holding the greenness of shattered glass
A tight embrace of the natural beauty
A rock tied to mine locks
Padlocked as I creep the stairway of life
Evolution of flames and fallacies
A sly that promises no tears
Compelled to paste the puzzle together
A locomotion of pieces to a system
Never to be afraid of who we are
United uniqueness to be the ones of a kind
Are we the loyal dogs who bark by the rivers?
Waiting for the tides to wash us away
Singing as the sun reflects beautiful ways
The tales of a long ago uncovers my soul
May 3, 2016
May 3, 2016 at 10:47 AM UTC
Stop trying to hold me still
I'm sure you mean well,
But your grip can ****
Your voice is haunting me
How can I find my way
When you're holding so tightly?
Jan 29, 2016
Jan 29, 2016 at 9:27 PM UTC
He’s young, so very young,
And beautiful.
Dark, broody, beautiful!
No fear in his eyes-
Only quiet confidence.
You fly by night
With sight of the owl,
You climb with your eagle machine,
Fiercely, conquering the night.
Skilfully, lovingly, victoriously!
Jan 1, 2015
Jan 1, 2015 at 4:19 PM UTC
Roly poly helicopter
Spinning and toppling on a splatter of pink liquid paint
The sharp sound of blackberries and the taste of an oboe
Under the neon night sky glinting with frozen lollipops
Oct 10, 2014
Oct 10, 2014 at 10:28 AM UTC