Breath & Shadow
Fall 2017 - Vol. 14, Issue 4
"Parachutes and Pilots"
written by
Lynda McKinney Lambert
All my flights were launched
before I determined the subtle
characteristics of the landscape. My
destination at take-off was unknown.
Even when I have a ticket - I’m
flying without wings
gliding on the unexpected drafts. I’m a
homegrown disaster with poor flying skills.
I pilot short, solitary flights of fancy -
journeys in my own living room where I
keep my long-forgotten
launches far away from the
mountain station.
Nevertheless, an
Österreich pilot laughed as he guided his
parachute above the Alpine mountain.
Quick and stealthy, his fully inflated
rainbow parachute was
stabilized by a hundred long lines.
“Try not to land on me,” I screamed at the
unfortunate pilot. On hot summer days I’m a
visionary pilot - a free-falling dreamer -
we posed for a photo just before my crash,
X-rays, and painful recovery.
“You know, I’ve never found a safe landing
zone! I’m a gentle breeze that will never return.”
First appeared in Indiana Voice Journal, Issue 35, Summer 2017.
Lynda Mckinney Lambert is a retired professor of fine arts and humanities who lives in western PA, and now writes full time. She is the author of the newly released book, Walking by Inner Vision: Stories &Poems by dldbooks. Her work appears in Indiana Voice Journal, Spirit Fire Review, Wordgathering, Magnets & Ladders, and other literary magazines. Lynda lost most of her sight in 2007 due to Ischemic Optic Neuropathy. She continues to create mixed-media fiber art and last year received an award at the In-Sights 2016 exhibition sponsored by American Printing House for the Blind, Louisville, KY.