Brave Early Pilots

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Inspired by novel Terre des Hommes - english title is "Wind, Sand and Stars" written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry who also wrote his better known “The Little Prince”.

Back in the times
When airplanes were new
And small engines unreliable
Circa 1930’s
Pilots took their lives in their hands
Their sense of adventure was keen
Risking life for duty
Delivering precious mail across continents
Linking cultures faraway and exotic
Flying over oceans, mountains and deserts
Vast stretches of land as far as the eye could see
Totally uninhabited, not ideal for engine trouble
Not a single soul in sight
Every flight a gamble
Literally flying on a prayer
Life hanging in the balance
In exchange for the sublime sensation of freedom
Over, in and out of cloud formations
The purr of the engine as only semblance of a mate
Looking in awe at the planet from way up high
Masters of the vast blue skies
Alone up there with God



AP:  Honorable Mention 2020, Honorable Mention 2020

Submitted on October 10, 2017 for contest MID OCTOBER PREMIERE sponsored by BRIAN STRAND

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Gregory Richard Barden

Date: 10/10/2017 11:43:00 PM

Wonderful write! I have always dreamed of being a fighter pilot, and even took flight lessons at one point ... my uncle was an ace in the Korean War. Loved this one!

Line Gauthier
Date: 10/11/2017 7:16:00 AM

I'm so happy this one resonated with you. You would absolutely love to read the novel I was referring to: WIND, SAND AND STARS. You would fall in love and want to read every one of his novels. I'd love to hear back from you on that. Thank you so much for your visit and comments.

Arthur Vaso

Date: 10/10/2017 10:59:00 PM

Oh I loved this, some say he died doing what he loved, others more poetic say, he flew away to the heavens!

Line Gauthier
Date: 10/11/2017 7:17:00 AM

Died too young. He was a poet at heart. Thanks for your heart-warming comment.