Jet Blue
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child,
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child,
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child,
A long way from home
January 2017. South Africa Airlines. Flight 6672 to Johannesburg. Arrive at JFK. 18 hours. No layover. Second class. No wifi. Second class. No blanket. Second class eat second. Land in the Motherland. The cradle of civilization. “Upon your arrival in Mother Africa, she will greet you, ‘Welcome Home’ my people said. Except if you are her second child. I discover.
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child,
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child,
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child,
A long way from home
April 2017. United Airlines Flight 4287 to California. 5 hours. Named for Queen Califia a mother on mission to raise armies of warrior women. Arrive at airport two hours early. Drink. Board. Pee. Knock knock. “Yes, I am peeing.” “Come out of there right now or we will remove you from this flight.” “But I am peeing.” “That’s it we are calling TSA.” Removed in cuffs. Banned from United.
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child,
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child,
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child,
A long way from home, a long way from home.
June 2017. Spirit Airlines Flight 9140 to Norfolk. 2 hours. 4 hour delay from Philly. Head straight from airport to grandmother’s sister’s funeral. Sit in the back. No further back then that. “She was a mother to us all,” is all you catch before the processional of tears, flowers, wails, and goodbyes. Then a rendition of her favorite song as they escort her coffin to the hurst.
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child,
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child,
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child,
A long way from home
August 2017. Caribbean Airlines Flight 2221 to Trinidad and Tobago where your mother was born. Eat palourie. Eat doubles. Eat coconut. Eat mango. Eat plantain. Eat roti. Eat wind. Eat sun. Eat sea. Now back to the airport.
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child,
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child,
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child,
A long way from home
December 2017. American Airlines Flight 3333 to…to no where. This flight has been cancelled. Please see the agent at the kiosk for further instructions on how to get you home.