Never Bringing Him Home

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/divers-find-no-trace-of-david-ibbotson-as-search-of-emiliano-sala-plane-wreckage-ends/ar-BBU9hQN?ocid=spartandhp

You cling to your watery grave

beneath the currents

and waves

the English Channel and the winds send.

Such sadness that you were simply

the pilot,

and not a famous and expensive

new football signing.

You were an after thought

in all the headlines,

in all the fundraising

and outpourings

of grief.

Your Piper PA-46  Malibu

came down thirty metres

from your last known

radar position,

220ft (67m) under water,

21 miles (34km) off Guernsey.

Sala's body was recovered from the wreckage

but sadly you were gone,

forever taken from Nora

and Danielle.

 

28/02/19

Author's Note

Reviews

[Kelly Scheppers]

Your outrage and compassion merge well into a most fitting tribute, one you should feel most proud of, John!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

THanks Kelly this was a dispicable case in the media. Eventually they caught on an mentioned him each time. But it was just a mention.

[wordman]

touching write john,a great tribute

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Ron.

[wordman]

you`re welcome

[Leslie Philibert]

A nice tribute, and makes a good point about how the media works.My son has been missing in the Bavarian Alps since last year, but apart from the local press and the police nobody seemed to notice. So if you are not an celebrity compassion seems to be selective.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I am so sorry to hear that Leslie (your latest poem explained perhaps?). There is news this week of two missing climbers and I am sure it brings all the sadness back to you. And you are right this celebrity culture is a sad indictment upon society.

[Einstein Noodle]

wonderful tribute John ... i was unaware of the crash and the loss :( the dichotomy in our USA press is even more dramatic today than it has ever been ... we kill at will and average of 1 Million unborn human beings with no outrage plastering the pages ... thousands of murders per year by criminals using illegally held weapons goes un-noticed it seems when just one "important" person is killed and the press can't get enough of it .. and always make the story about lack of gun legislation in the USA. i kind of got off the subject didn't i ;} your poem reminds me of when i visited the Buddy Holly crash site ... makeshift memorials were placed for all who died, including the pilot ... which i was grateful for ... it makes the healing more complete somehow ... peace on ya sir!
E.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

'E' we are on the same page. I have posted many 'rage' pieces about such inequity including my latest. I think celebrity combined with constant internet bombardments has given many people a skewed perspective. Many thanks.

[Einstein Noodle]

i think so too ... :(

[Ted Kniffen]

Well written tribute, John, one the pilot David Ibbotson rightly deserved. This is a world that worships fame
as though that makes those individuals special. Salas could play football, but could he fly?

Thank you.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Good question Ted. I agree but neither deserved such an end. Many thanks.

[Ted Kniffen]

No, they did not.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

you don't have to be famous to have meant something to many people....headlines and back pages....just like Rich and Poor....too much distinction that should not exist.
j.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed so Jacob but in this case everyone focussed upon Sala and forgot the pilot who also died. many thanks.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

and i realized that from the reading...like i said...people cared about the pilot...just because he is not famous, should not mean he is overlooked by the press...
it's so sad.
j.

[gram linski]

Very poignant, no one even mentioned the pilot for the first week, R.I.P.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed so G. Many thanks.

[Chris Shaw]

You focus your tribute on the pilot of this downed aircraft. Rightly so in my opinion because the media were only interested in Sala. Day after day it was about him, and yet the pilot's family and friends and indeed him as well, almost became an after thought. Sensitively written and applauded.

Chris