Soaring over a sea of night

The cool summer air seeps in through the open hatch,

Running lights of the other birds are all that can be seen,

The view is almost serene.

 

Pockets of light appear from the darkness below

Like a flickering light coming to life.

The sky erupts with an elaborate display of fireworks

Red, green, and yellow tracers streak through the air.

How can something so beautiful

Strike fear in any man’s heart?

 

A wave of heat fills the air and light is nearly blinding,

The metal bird beside falls gracefully into the abyss

Like a dying fiery phoenix… a nice thought,

Though sadly this phoenix will not be resurrected.

 

Our soaring vessel no longer feels safe

But it is not yet time to begin our descent,

Time itself has slowed down

For it seems as though we will never be given the signal.

The anxiety is overwhelming,

Even the violent shakes from the engine

Can’t mask the rapid pounding of the heart.

 

In an instant the hull is lit by a luminous (and welcoming) green,

Instinct takes over; every man is already moving for the exit.

The solid ground disappears and we are absorbed by the night.

 

A wave of calm takes over,

The sounds of war fade away and all goes quiet,

We now look upon the darkness face to face.

It is almost hypnotizing but training overpowers it

And cloth explodes from the pack

Jerking us from the trance back to reality.

 

The time for flying is almost over

As figures and shadows appear below,

And with the thump the journey comes to an end;

The darkness apparently has a bottom.

We managed to penetrate the shadow, yet battle has only begun.