rainbow of flowers
multitude of flags flutter
the sepals-accept
v-formation geese
the royal air force power
crown jewels fly high
crows in ebony
great britain’s bobbies whistle
corralling the crowds
reign of umbrellas
tutelary governing
until kingdom come
inherited solemn pledge
the sovereign’s soul on the ledge
I wanted to fly and be a fighter pilot
From my youngest age
Shooting enemy Soviet planes down
Before they could nuke us
The sky called to me
A lofty cavern of air and clouds
But my dream was just a dream
For when I was 14 my eyesight went bad
I couldn't see the blackboard
And had to copy my mates work
I had an eye test and it was true
My eyesight had got worse
I was short sighted and had to wear glasses
They said my eyes would be fine in 6 months
It was the biggest lie I was told till then
My eyes got worse each year
So there was no chance of being a pilot
Added to average grades
And my discipline issue
I never joined the Royal Air Force
Even though I was a cadet for years
And visited active Air Force bases
And spent the day as an armourer
Putting bombs on a Tornado bomber
If only I'd have joined up
And been an armourer
My only life regret
...inspired by 'Science-Fiction Cradlesong' by C.S. Lewis
Were we to try for heaven,
by dust and stars be riven
to lust for far off places
where we might find strange faces,
the cost could be pre-emptive,
marginalize incentive.
In tubes of strengthened metal
to demonstrate our mettle,
at speeds defying gravity
for honour or depravity,
unknown manifestations
might try and test our patience.
Distances beyond our ken,
regions never seen by men,
from earth's fair confines to the skies,
is this judicious? ...is it wise?
black as ink and unappealing,
drear is this infinite ceiling!
Perhaps we should be circumspect,
think twice before we genuflect,
raise space to a divinity,
but worship what we sense and see,
the majesty of dales and hills,
for space may aggravate our ills.
*Lewis died in 1963, 6 years before man landed on the moon.
**'through adversity to the stars,' the motto of the Royal Air Force.
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