Thoughts and poetry for the families of the shuttle members.

[rbisrb2]

My heart is heavy,
My eyes red with pain,
I see a star crossing the sky,
then seven diminish fluttering,

Though bright in the morning sky,
a sight of Glory,
They meet the face of God,
and behold His Glory.

Seven Stars in Heaven,
The world beholds,
Will ever be remembered,
By those that seek that dream.

To the families that lost heros today, a mournful nation stretches their greif to you, hoping that this small gesture will have meaning and comfort to you. May the Lord comfort your hearts, and bless you in many ways.

[EveningStar]

High Flight

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds -- and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of -- wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

-- RCAF Flight-Lieutenant John Gillespie Magee Jr.
(1922-1941).

[aresian]

I read one that was proposed as a toast to the fallen by sf author John Ringo on another board:

The arching sky is calling
Spacemen back to their trade.
ALL HANDS! STAND BY! FREE FALLING!
And the lights below us fade.

Out ride the sons of Terra,
Far drives the thundering jet,
Up leaps the race of Earthmen,
Out, far, and onward yet ---

We pray for one last landing
On the globe that gave us birth;
Let us rest our eyes on the fleecy skies
And the cool, green hills of Earth.

-- Robert A. Heinlein