And Fly Again By David Roth © 6 October, 2003 Because it isn’t really enough Can never really be enough To simply say Fly And leave it at that. Some things simply can’t be explained Some things simply can’t be contained Some things simply can’t be neatly Bundled and packaged Signed, sealed, and delivered, By the mere preponderance of words. Can you explain the hues and textures The subtle tricks of light The incandescence and the brilliance Of an ocean sunset To a blind man? Can you ever hope to describe The gentle nuances of Mozart The broad strokes of Beethoven The majestic glory of Handel Or the pomp and pageantry of Sousa The sweet elegance of Strauss To one who cannot hear? Neither, then, By the simple stating of case Can mere words Rise, Float, Soar Ever hope to give understanding Of what it is to Fly! To stand on the edge of the precipice Wings extended Poised on outstretched limbs Exploding into the atmosphere Rising higher and faster With each powerful stroke Each purposeful beat. To ride for hours on end The invisible columns of heated updraft Buoyant and floating As if suspended on unseen strings Or the sudden sheer of a downdraft Driving relentlessly As an arrow from the bow Of a mighty archer Plummeting with abandon Wind roaring past your ears Blinding rush of terminal speed Only to pull up at the last second. To see for miles and miles While dancing in the clouds Twisting and turning Tumbling and rolling The incredible lightness of being The incredible feeling of lightness Oh! What amazing, indescribable, bliss! To Rise, To Float, To Soar What jubilation fills my soul What freedom as my spirit soars Above the small and weary world Where here Alone in the ethereal expanse of sky I truly live As I can never live below How can mere words No matter how well crafted Ever hope to explain the inexplicable Describe the indescribable To tell What it means To ride the wind Sailing high above mountain and valley Field and stream Treetop and crashing wave To fly And fly again