Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE AVIATORS, by JAMES DUVAL PHELAN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE AVIATORS, by                    
First Line: Triumphant world! Man glorious, endowed
Last Line: We grow by sacrifice; we live by death.
Subject(s): Aviation & Aviators


"I looked and the sky was flaming
I turned and the light was dead."

Triumphant world! Man glorious, endowed,
The conquest of the universe his goal,
Strove not his sons to rise above the crowd,
Defeated were the mission of the Soul.

I see heroic men with honor crowned
And youths, ennobled, stretched upon the sward;
Their decoration is a gaping wound,
But conscious manly effort their reward.

That Icarus failed he once in skyward flight
When dumb submission held mankind in thrall,
Shall, shirking still, the elements affright,
Nor heroes, science-winged, contend for all?
Count thou, O gainful World, the precious breath?
We grow by sacrifice; we live by death.





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