Down To Earth

All those magnificent men in their flying machines

of flapping wings

feathered 

(they went too close to the sun and burned)

or canvas framed

(they barely left the ground with a hop skip and jump)

to begin with.

But soon they were followed by variations on balloons

filled 

         with hot air 

         or helium

         or hydrogen.

Then came the airplanes

                         gliders

                         motors

                         jet propelled

                         sea planes

                         helicopters.

Then the earthly atmosphere became too tame for them,

ready for breeching in their search for more space

they launched their whooshing rockets.

But in the end they’ll all be back

down to earth.

Gravity will ground them.

                         

https://visualverse.org/submissions/down-to-earth/