Best Airship Poems
*For Matt's How to Build a Spaceship Contest
How do we create an airship that soars?
The answer was Roswell’s, but it could be yours
Make the long trek to Area 51
To find secrets that lie beyond our sun
Use a metal that is lighter than tin foil
Load the fuel tank with something cheaper than oil
Beam us up, Scotty, to the Enterprise
And view technology through a Vulcan’s eyes
Defrost Walt Disney’s cryogenic brain
To help us design the computer’s mainframe
Call Mulder and Scully out of retirement
Their UFO knowledge is alien-sent
Be sure to use tiles that don’t overheat
Like those that cast Challenger down to defeat
Let’s add Stephen King to the construction crew
If “Christine” could talk, our spaceship should too
Then let’s send the tab for NASA to pay
What happened to our space program bucks anyway?
Now we can blast Congress into outer space
For the lot in D.C., there’s no better place
Have you ever imagined the feeling
Of soaring up over the clouds
With only the breeze between you and the earth
Away from the bustling crowds?
With occasional sound of the fiery blast
That helps keep your airship afloat
A peaceful and heavenly solitude
As you sail this celestial boat
Imagine the total serenity
As you take in the breathtaking view
Corn fields that go on forever
Mountains that reach for the blue
Riding on currents and sunbeams
A feeling takes hold of your soul
Drifting over streams and babbling brooks
At peace, you are whole
Have you ever imagined the feeling
Of soaring above the clouds
Only the breeze between you and the earth
Away from the bustling crowds
With the occasional sound of the fiery blast
That keeps your airship afloat
An oh so peaceful, heavenly solitude
As you sail this celestial boat
Imagine the absolute total serenity
As you take in the breathtaking view
Corn fields that go on forever and ever
Mountains that reach for the blue
Drifting skyward on a gentle breeze
Over the clouds you soar
A feeling of serenity and inner peace
Emanates from every pore
What an amazing sight to see in the sky.
A great silver airship cruising up high.
A fine example of aviation accomplishment,
you were named after Germany’s late president.
To the German Reich, you were a joy and pride.
You gave your passengers a luxury ride.
This was just another ocean-crossing journey.
Your docking destination would be Lakehurst, New Jersey.
A terrible thing happened when you approached the mooring mast.
Quite unexpectedly, there was a large blast.
What followed was a frightening conflagration.
You came crashing down before reaching your destination.
There remained just a charred metal skeleton to see.
Your demise remains an unsolved mystery.
Erster am Südpol
Geheimer Wettlauf mit Scott
Im ewigen Eis
Auf Rettungsflug für Nobile
Verschollen im Eismeer
----------------------------------------
First at the South Pole
In a secret race with Scott
In the eternal ice
On a rescue flight for Nobile
Missing over the Arctic Ocean
----------------------------------------
Primero en el Polo Sur
En carrera secreto con Scott
En los hielos eternos
En vuelo savamento a Nobile
Desaparecido sobre el océano Ártico
Note: Roald Amundsen (1872 – 1928), a Norwegian explorer of polar regions led the first
Antarctic expedition to reach the South Pole (1910-1912). He was the first person to reach
both poles. Me was reported missingin at plane crash during a rescue mission for Umberto
Nobile in 1928 northwest of Bear Island in teh Arctic Ocean. Umberto Nobile (1885 – 1978)
was an Italian airship pioneer and general. He was injured when he crashed and rescued by
a Swedish pilot. Mussolini degraded him and Nobile emigrated first to the Sovjet Union,
later to the USA and to Spain. In 1945 he was rehabilitated and returned to Italy.
It seemed that I dared
To climb the stairs toward heaven
Effort over a millennium, or was it timeless?
A spiritual goal pursued in this endless universe
No pure maidens in the reception line
Just me, newly arrived, still in motion
Without direction, decisiveness, where to advance?
Torn between space, life and the ticking clock
While the ultimate brain conjured, matriculated, digested
Gasped, overwhelmed, in hypnotic fashion
Is it my arrival or my escape, or the inevitability of the day?
Some have purpose, desires and goals
Some follow their love instinct, or destiny
Some must lead and conquer
I myself motivate the everyman
Every grain in my body still demands freedom, choice
Every right I have to climb the staircase to freedom
But even if you dare upward to heaven
One must ask for forgiveness
As you leave loved ones behind
Leave your tools, though you still possess a keen intellect
Almost stripped down, a passenger, daring
With destiny around the corner, belief still questioned!
So up and up, isolated from all I had but my brains
A voyager, I risk life – wondering for what?
For posterity – they don’t care. Eternal honor
Soon to forget and superseded
So a risk-taker, plunked down my wealth
Accepted, aged, hope to bring sanity
To experimenter’s, ego drive, vanity and famous
Or just join a historic event coming for the advent of a new ride
Safety and terminal cancellation as Iast into the rocket
Now to please the leader, all a risk. Take off.
Observe the rocket into the hemisphere –good takeoff.
I am now helpless on the rocket airship to the Moon
Volatile airship
Caresses glories unseen…
Now seen by my eyes
Sponsor S K A T *
Contest Name Air Balloon ride ( HAIKU )
Airship
How far I’ve flown I neither know nor care.
Much as this open deck my plans are bare.
Of star or compass I have nary need,
But follow as these downy cloud tops lead.
The chilly breezes toying through my hair
Cascade across my skin and jacket flare
While on the bottoms of my booted feet
The engine taps an unrelenting beat.
I acquiesce to gentle bob and sway
Beneath balloon and rigging bloated shape.
Awaiting now the nearly risen sun
I scan the vast expanse and see no one.
And yet, I hear a rumbling of some sort
Then luminescing clouds off to my port
Combusting deep with ever brighter tones
Now booming louder, louder, nearer, NO!
Bombastic airship, cannons bursting now,
Ejected straight at me from out its shroud.
A maniac, that pilot, heaving hard
Just missing our collision by one yard
His tortured face, the horror in those eyes,
For near destroying me, so I surmised,
Until I saw his passing stern ablaze.
Then mammoth winged beast in brutal chase
Erupting, fierce and howling, scales agleam.
The hot concussion of its down-spent wing
That final moment as it thrust away
Forced ship and I and all the world to sway.
Then came the screams, the pounding and a moan
As crew and cargo floundered down below
Caught in the violent swinging disarray.
The flaming ship and dragon sped away
To disappear in yet another cloud.
Our vessel’s motion finally calmed down.
Those lightly injured put the ship aright.
And unspilled rum was quickly spent that night.
Now star and compass were of urgent need.
This damaged vessel and the injuries
Required that we find a ready port
Equipped to lend us aid of every sort.
I searched in haste upending fore and aft
For sextant, compass, and the proper map,
Then finally we found the guiding star
And made for help that wasn’t very far.
By dawn I bid the floating docks goodbye
With only half a crew and resupply
But, now where'er I travel through the sky
I keep the navigation tools nearby.
amidst my indelible impressions
comes an era of remembrence
that shall go down in history
I recall the flight of an airship
traveling abroad from Europe
to the United States
with ninety seven aboard
passangers crews and news media
were all awaiting for its safe arrival
as newsreel coverage was filming
the attempt docking of this flight it
turned into a blazing yellow and red fireball
within one minute
thirthy five lives had
parished
In Memory Of
Those Lost On The
Hindenburg
{Deutsche Luftschiff Zeppelin #129}
Also Entry For
Brian Strands
Indelible Impressions Contest
I
Never one to shackle one with the past
Yet humans use words to distort
Time, our guilt or responsibility
In that sense, the Past is a scapegoat
An escape route, and inconsistent ally:
If one has/ had parents, one has a past
And we give it life with our names ...
When we use any names, biological
Or anthropological, or political (Malcolm X)
The past is deployed - a battleship of peace and war
II
God has a Past (faithfulness) yet is timeless
Not shackled by time; the Passover
Cannot be passed over or passed by
Even as Past History of Hebrews escaping
Egypt, superpower of the day
If you have skeletons you're hiding
You may say LET the PAST BURY ITSELF
It can't be done
Face it, repent, and enjoy PRESENT Presents
Of a cleaner conscience, trust, open relationships
The PAST is the (steamship or) airship
That brought you here: face this time with truth
It isn't that often as time marches on
that my glad rags come out for a 'do',
more funerals now, each year more friends have gone,
and no births to welcome someone new.
But a forthcoming bash meant I should cut a dash
with some formal wear brought from retirement,
a jacket, single breasted , years past I invested,
it seemed to match my dress requirement.
With a shirt crisp and white, shoes, trousers black as night
and a tie, subtle shades of pale blue,
and the time came to leave, pushed my arms in my sleeves
but something was amiss, I just knew.
This didn't feel right, shoulders felt that bit tight
cuffs were far from my wrists as I looked,
and a mirror can't lie I could now see that I
looked quite like a baloney, half cooked.
I bent forwards and shrugged, both my shoulders I hugged
stomach in, and breathed out, shrank my chest,
the lapels wouldn't meet, I admitted defeat
it's a fact- my East wouldn't meet West.
Passing years and good living had not been forgiving
and although I picked clothes with good taste
maybe had been too proud, but my clothes weren't allowed
to keep up with the change round my waist.
No cursing and no shouts, so I still sauntered out
it annoyed me that I'd dropped a clanger,
ensemble concluded, it visually alluded
to an airship just leaving it's hangar.
This is Africa.
Where people are being judge by their past,
And our hearts are painted with black.
Youths are cuddled up in early relationship,
And their lives are like the speed of an airship.
Parents are not respected anymore,
And advices are ignore from the sun's core.
This is Africa.
Where corruption is the order of the day,
and embezzlement of public funds is like the ocean's wave.
Politicians believe in solipsism,
and their avidity for power have made them vile organism.
Children are being raped and murdered in every corner of the street.
Education site has been a place of wealth seeking.
This is Africa.
Where we have been strangulated by high cost of living,
and those who suffocate us are offered thanksgiving.
Health sectors are poor,
and illnesses on our continent are dressed up in strong armour.
Our rights are infringed by evil perpetrators,
and our hearts are broken by these penetrators.
This is Africa.
Where the less privilege are fed with grieves and pains,
And government officials are out there popping champagne.
Scholarships are given based on mutual affiliation,
And scholars are offered abnegation.
Jobs are being given base on political affiliation and party sentiment,
And those who are qualified are left with predicament.
This is Africa.
Where people are being murdered for ritualistic purposes,
And the police are their accomplices.
People worship god that doesn't speak nor move,
and the real God has been disprove.
Politicians only come around as election time draw closer,
and after election their family members are the ones on their roster.
This is Africa.
Where Politicians don't have time for the abnegated masses,
and we are referred to as asses.
Brutal men abandon their children for no reason,
and mothers are left in bleak season.
Single parents strive hard to send their kids to school
And Those who speak the truth are rejected and considered fools.
This is Africa.
Where Politicians insult each other like kids, and citizens are left with dark moments they can't face.
Those who exploit our resources
and give us hot flames are hail as King,
And we reject and curse those considered our kin.
Westerners feed us with arm to annihilate our own kind,
and envy is what we incline in our minds.
Standing silent close to Kaveri reach,
Watching vary fountain which night please,
In middle blossom of unsteady plant,
Being indulge with various vision haunt.
Along the beauty dissolved my offer,
I was infatuated in love indescribable manner.
No sooner than that music flow,
All at once water sparks glow.
By ogle display confirmed pair deadly pact rest.
And put hands tide round each waist.
Within period merely couple a day,
Agree to run both on single way.
A soaring airship disturbed our pleasure
Harshly snatched her looks from arms mine forever.
There were cloudy sky near those mountain
Violent storm too approached drain out plane.
How sad was thee trip to B'lore shine,
Made vanish present as fairy tale genuine.
Perhaps, none accounts definite what would happen,
Rare enjoys life replete, many fade uncertain.
It is pre-determines every lot before hence.
The man has skilled accustom structure accordance.
While an individual's regular purity convinced Him,
Only may trial complete his crack courteous whim.
Love and sex known as supplement,
Any be effective prior in adherent,
Just satisfaction of obstinate body illustrate sex,
But love is lasting long till universe.
If a man bounds with sensual lore,
Ne'er gets limit, well! I am sure.
My love touch pride of wide majesty,
Doesn't need tedious effort advent sanctity.
Let proper close destiny matter jollifying.
Yet I shall preserve idol always undying.
Neither time could decay nor death blot,
Thy name will survive period breathes little art.
Have you ever imagined the feeling
Of soaring above the clouds
Only the breeze between you and the earth
Away from the bustling crowds
The occasional sound of the fiery blast
That keeps your airship afloat
Such a peaceful and heavenly solitude
As you sail this celestial boat
Imagine the absolute total serenity
As you take in the breathtaking view
Corn fields that go on forever and ever
Mountains that reach for the blue
Drifting skyward on a gentle breeze
Over the clouds you soar
A feeling of serenity and inner peace
Emanates from every pore
Have you ever imagined the feeling
Of soaring above the clouds
Only the breeze between you and the earth
Away from the bustling crowds
With the occasional sound of the fiery blast
That keeps your airship afloat
An oh so peaceful, heavenly solitude
As you sail your celestial boat
Imagine the absolute total serenity
As you take in the breathtaking view
Corn fields that go on forever and ever
Mountains that reach for the blue
Drifting skyward on a gentle breeze
Above the clouds you soar
A feeling of contentment and inner peace
Emanates from your every pore
© Jack Ellison 29014