The Spaceman’s Song

by

Wayne Hicks

They linger like the mem’ry of the sun upon my face,

The joy, the thrill, the fear as rockets roared me into space,

The roar and rumble shook me to the bottom of my soul

As my ship took me to far-off worlds, and kept me safe and whole,

Should I tell you of the wonders that these eyes of mine have seen?

Can my words paint vibrant pictures, can they show you what I mean?

I have sailed star-studded velvet to a hundred different worlds,

I have stood on great blue marbles, swum the seas of gleaming pearls,

Heard the whispers of the Ancients, witnessed new worlds being born,

Hacked my way through steaming jungles, crawled ‘cross deserts, dry, forlorn,

I have seen the Martian Towers, that were old when Earth was young,

Heard the cry of Venus’ Dragons, hid my eyes from Vega’ s sun,

Plowed the fields of New Beginnings, begged for alms in Jubbul’s streets,

Touched the frozen air of Pluto, sampled Tertius’ luscious treats!

And what of my adventures, as I sailed across the sky?

I’ve been Soldier, Slave, Explorer, Beggar, Captain, even Spy!

I’ve fought bugs beside the Roughnecks, helped the crippled Baslim stand,

I’ve shared water with the Old Ones, battled stobor hand to hand.!

I have hummed the tunes of Rhysling, “Grand Canal”. “Up Ship!”, “Green Hills,”

And lain back in drunken barrooms, as he belched out “Rangy Lil!”

I’ve farmed the tunnels of the moon and faced Galactic Councils down,

Trod the Twenty Universes as a Hero to the Crown!

Oh, Have I made you see, my friend, and would you come along?

As I make this Glorious Journey, as I sing the Spaceman’s Song?

Then, come on your berth is waiting, Hurry!, Don’t be left behind!

For we raise ship any moment, in the Robert A. Heinlein!