THE PASSENGER'S PRAYER

(First published in “Centreline” 1966)

(The Litany of Saint Sepulchre, Patron saint of Boundary fences)

     God bless all who have worked on this aeroplane hour after hour
     God grant that its Pilot is intoxicated with nothing more potent than Power
     God grant the Controller to be as efficient as he is imperious
     God grant the aviation spirit contains nothing lethally deleterious
     God grant that such spirit is supplied in an adequate sufficiency
     God grant that all systems operate with reasonable efficiency
     God grant the coolant mixtures stay the specified frigidity
     God grant non-Angelic wings, less Splendour, more Rigidity
     God grant the maps and charts display an area specific
     God grant that it be “Amber One” and not (say) “The Pacific”
     God grant us no excessive strain, not human nor mechanical
     God grant us understanding of Thy Laws aerodynamical
     God bless this ’plane’s Designer and his “Theories of Flight”
And-as-the-aeroplane-gallops-madly-towards-Point V2, Dear-God, Please-God,
                        GRANT THAT HIS THEORIES ARE RIGHT.              AMEN.

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