Chuck Thomas
Chuck Thomas
By franklin Price
9/21/2019
I'll tell you of a legend who flew hard in Viet Nam
Of a pilot who flew everything, who said that's who I am
With a propeller or a rotor or a jet, he'd lead the way
If it left the ground he'd fly it. That's just how he earned his pay
When the war was over, a test pilot he became
Did it for the fun of it, and not just for the fame
Would it hold together, was the plane a fake or gem
The testing was exciting, was the here and now for him
I met him riding Harley's, when his piloting was done
Riding then on two wheels, was how he had some fun
Rode as hard and rode as fast as anyone around
Then one day in Africa, I found him on the ground
He had ridden to a vineyard where the specialty was Port
Was returning on the right and not the left I must report
A building blocked the view, of a tractor, he would hit.
As he came around the turn, he smacked it more than just a bit
He thought he was an acrobat as he was flying through the air
Had no plane around him, that was done and was not there.
Landed with no flaps and no wheels to touch the ground
We, waiting at the restaurant, had heard the crashing sound.
I hopped upon my Harley and I headed for the noise
Was riding in the left lane like South Africa enjoys
When I came upon the scene, Chuck was still upon the turf
Had found out that a hard paved road, was not the place to surf
Was cradled by nurse Susi, who was a member of our band
Was still resting in the same place where he had come to land
Underneath the wire of a fence beside the lane
Chuck was not unconscious nor appeared to be in pain
What happened next is much a blur, somehow we got him to a doc
Who found he had no broken bones, not much damage from the knock
Said Chuck should rest a day or two then he could ride again
We all felt relieved that day, that it was a tractor, not a train.
Copyright ©
Franklin Price
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