From: srsurapa@mtu.edu (Surapanani)
Subject: A BIRD IN THE SKY  -------- A POEM
Organization: Michigan Technological University
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 19:39:08 GMT

         A Bird in the Sky


   One sunny afternoon
       the cowboy gazed at the sky
       to watch a sea gull and an eagle
       flying by
       with the wings spread along the side
       as they glided by

   Wishing he could fly
      the cowboy looked up to the sky
      and as the thought flashed by
      the echos of faraway plane
      came ringing by

   As the cowboy looked on
      out came a canopy and a chute
      from the twin engine kite in the sky
      with the wings spread up and above
      as it glided by

   With no fright of height
      or fear of demise
      the cowboy dared to fly the skies
      like the eagle and the kites

   Sunny, is my name
      and Jumpmaster is my game
      said he, with a look in the eye
      that scared all the eagles nearby

   You will learn to fly
      from the rules I give
      follow them and you will live
      discard them and you will die
      said Sunny with a gleam in the eye

   A canopy and a chute
      is all you need
      but a reserve is placed
      in case you require
      to flip open from dire straits
      as you fall from great heights

   First jump, the static jump
      3000 feet in all
      from the ground to the sky
      and 18 seconds is all
      you have to live and die

   Hang from the wing
      spread your legs
      look up
      and let go

   Start count
      One one thousand
      Two one thousand
      Three one thousand
      Four one thousand
      Five one thousand
      and look up

   Chute open, and you are ok
      if not 15 seconds to go
      to pull the flaps and the cord
      for the reserve to flip open

   Turn around if line twists
      steer with flaps blue
      and brake with flaps red
      pull left and release right to turn left
      pull right and release left to turn right

   Landing gear,
      as you reach ground
      away from the wind
      to slow down
      flare hard on the brakes
      as you touch down

   So armed with the tips
      from Sunny the Jumpmaster
      and with the chute in the back
      and reserve in the front
      the cowboy boarded the plane
      with a heavy heart and loaded weight

   Time to jump said Sunny
      as the door sprang open
      to the empty skies
      blue and white
      with green plains
      not in sight

   Looked at Sunny
      with scared eyes
      to convey the feeling
      that he must be kidding
      for you have to be a nut
      to jump from the kite
      out into the skies

   In the end
      adventure override the fright
      as the cowboy stepped
      on to the wing of the kite

   With the winds
      gushing at high speeds
      and the heart
      pounding with high beats
      hang in the air
      clutching the wing
      to give a last stare
      at the smiling Sunny
      rocking in rhapsody

   Spread your legs
      look up
      GO

   Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhaaaaaa
       aaaahhhhhhaaaaaaaa
       aaaaaaahhhhhaaaaaa
       aaaaaaaahhhhhhhaaa
       and a jolt in mid air
       as the chute opened

   Look up
      the chute wide open
      HERCULES it said
      in stark bold letters
      thank the gods above
      for I could live
      to see an another day

   Look down
      the ground far below
      streams and sea
      forests and fields
      in shades of blue and green

   Steer left
      the bright sunshine
      blinding the eye
      and steer right
      the soft glow
      pleasing to the eye

   Near to the ground
      look down
      away from the wind
      brake hard
      and land soft

   One sunny afternoon
      the cowboy looked up at the sky
      with the spirits soaring high
      to watch an eagle and sea gull flying by
      and all this cowboy could say
      with the heart full of joy


   Ah! there flies a "bird in the sky"              



                 Srini Surapanani

    (The Cowboy from the land of holy cows and magic fakirs)


Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian