Fogbound

On a transcontinental flight, hoping to pass the time
I introduced myself to the man seated on my right
He said his name was Daniel, he lived in the mid-west
A man of 70 years or so, if I had to guess
We talked for an hour, about nothing in particular
Then he asked if I believed in ghosts, in a voice that seemed to quiver
I said I'd never seen a thing that would make me believe
But when he told this story I felt he wasn't trying to decieve
He said he'd booked an island vacation at the age of 33
To take his girl to sandy beaches amid a bright blue sea
But the islands airport was fogged in tight, they landed another place
This islands name was Tenerife, in the Canary Island chain
They waited there for the fog to lift and get back on thier way
But fog rolled in to this place too, they'd have to wait a day
"It was a bit after midnight, when I got up to have a smoke,"
"Went outside into the fog, taking care no one awoke."
The fog itself seemed luminous, glowing from inside
And he thought he heard a crackling noise that sounded like fire
He walked a distance toward the sound but didn't see a thing
Until he came to Runway 30 and saw pieces of a wing
His eyes lost focus, his breathing shallow, he said these words to me:
"I saw people lurching toward me as if in agony,"
"I'll carry that vision in my mind for all eternity."
These people were burned, missing arms and legs, injured hideously
Then the sounds! From in my head groans and wails and screams
I smelled charred flesh and aviation fuel, and I knew it wasn't a dream
Toward me they came with arms outstretched and I broke into a run
Back to the lounge, panicked with fear, and awoke my girlfriend
When I explained just what I'd seen, she said "A trick of light."
And because I wanted to believe, I thought "She must be right."
I fell asleep there in that chair and didn't dream that night
Woke feeling silly and embarassed, at the dawns faint light
The late morning sky was blue, we flew on to our destination
Upon checking into our resort room to start this deserved vacation
My girl said she was going to shower, so I looked around the room
And on the table a newspaper lay, which I started to peruse
Below the fold the headline said it was 3 years today
Since two big jets had crashed together on that fogged in runway
The crash was caused by an impatient pilot who couldn't stand delay
Took off before another jet was clear on that horrendous day
His actions doomed all in his craft for the few short minutes saved
And of the souls aboard the other plane, only 61 were saved
I read this story with a cold sweat for now I really knew
That those I'd seen in the night were dead passengers and crew...