<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="" class="head">For an Airman</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Having</span> found wings, he tossed, light as a feather,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Airy as thistledown, 'twixt earth and sky.</p><p class="line">Oh, but the dark earth held his soul in tether!</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Could he come back who knew what 'twas to fly?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">His gravitation's now for stars and planets:</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">These draw him, while the earth drops like a stone.</p><p class="line">Strong-winged beyond the flight of gulls or gannets</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">He rises, ever rises; he is flown.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">When he came back all Spring was in his vision;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Yet pined he like a wild bird in a net.</p><p class="line">His dreams were all of fields and groves Elysian</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Where he flew ever and no bounds were set.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Did someone bring his body down? Then gaily</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">He waved to his foe: "Your luck to-day, not mine";</p><p class="line">Shook himself free of bonds that irked him daily</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">With the last courtesy, so brave and fine.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">He has o'erflown return in the wild rapture.</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">What rumour of him in the unending space?</p><p class="line">Flying so far, so fast, beyond recapture;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The flying ecstasy bright in his face.</p></div></body></html> · Great War