The Albatross
Often to pass the time on board, the crew
will catch an albatross, one of those big birds
which nonchalently chaperone a ship
across the bitter fathoms of the sea.
Tied to the deck, this sovereign of space,
as if embarrassed by its clumsiness,
pitiably lets its great white wings
drag at its sides like a pair of unshipped oars.
How weak and awkward, even comical
this traveller but lately so adoit -
one deckhand sticks a pipestem in its beak,
another mocks the cripple that once flew!
The Poet is like this monarch of the clouds
riding the storm above the marksman's range;
exiled on the ground, hooted and jeered,
he cannot walk because of his great wings.
poem by Charles Baudelaire
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Related quotes
L'Albatros (The Albatross)
Souvent, pour s'amuser, les hommes d'équipage
Prennent des albatros, vastes oiseaux des mers,
Qui suivent, indolents compagnons de voyage,
Le navire glissant sur les gouffres amers.
À peine les ont-ils déposés sur les planches,
Que ces rois de l'azur, maladroits et honteux,
Laissent piteusement leurs grandes ailes blanches
Comme des avirons traîner à côté d'eux.
Ce voyageur ailé, comme il est gauche et veule!
Lui, naguère si beau, qu'il est comique et laid!
L'un agace son bec avec un brûle-gueule,
L'autre mime, en boitant, l'infirme qui volait!
Le Poète est semblable au prince des nuées
Qui hante la tempête et se rit de l'archer;
Exilé sur le sol au milieu des huées,
Ses ailes de géant l'empêchent de marcher.
The Albatross
Often, to amuse themselves, the men of a crew
Catch albatrosses, those vast sea birds
That indolently follow a ship
As it glides over the deep, briny sea.
Scarcely have they placed them on the deck
Than these kings of the sky, clumsy, ashamed,
Pathetically let their great white wings
Drag beside them like oars.
That winged voyager, how weak and gauche he is,
So beautiful before, now comic and ugly!
One man worries his beak with a stubby clay pipe;
Another limps, mimics the cripple who once flew!
The poet resembles this prince of cloud and sky
Who frequents the tempest and laughs at the bowman;
When exiled on the earth, the butt of hoots and jeers,
His giant wings prevent him from walking.
— Translated by William Aggeler
The Albatross
Sometimes for sport the men of loafing crews
Snare the great albatrosses of the deep,
The indolent companions of their cruise
As through the bitter vastitudes they sweep.
Scarce have they fished aboard these airy kings
When helpless on such unaccustomed floors,
They piteously droop their huge white wings
And trail them at their sides like drifting oars.
How comical, how ugly, and how meek
Appears this soarer of celestial snows!
One, with his pipe, teases the golden beak,
One, limping, mocks the cripple as he goes.
The Poet, like this monarch of the clouds,
Despising archers, rides the storm elate.
But, stranded on the earth to jeering crowds,
The great wings of the giant baulk his gait.
— Translated by Roy Campbell
The Albatross
Sometimes, to entertain themselves, the men of the crew
Lure upon deck an unlucky albatross, one of those vast
Birds of the sea that follow unwearied the voyage through,
Flying in slow and elegant circles above the mast.
No sooner have they disentangled him from their nets
Than this aerial colossus, shorn of his pride,
Goes hobbling pitiably across the planks and lets
His great wings hang like heavy, useless oars at his side.
How droll is the poor floundering creature, how limp and weak —
He, but a moment past so lordly, flying in state!
They tease him: One of them tries to stick a pipe in his beak;
Another mimics with laughter his odd lurching gait.
The Poet is like that wild inheritor of the cloud,
A rider of storms, above the range of arrows and slings;
Exiled on earth, at bay amid the jeering crowd,
He cannot walk for his unmanageable wings.
— Translated by George Dillon
Albatrosses
Often our sailors, for an hour of fun,
Catch albatrosses on the after breeze
Through which these trail the ship from sun to sun
As it skims down the deep and briny seas.
Scarce have these birds been set upon the poop,
Than, awkward now, they, the sky's emperors,
Piteous and shamed, let their great white wings droop
Beside them like a pair of idle oars.
These wingèd voyagers, how gauche their gait!
Once noble, now how ludicrous to view!
One sailor bums them with his pipe, his mate
Limps, mimicking these cripples who once flew.
Poets are like these lords of sky and cloud,
Who ride the storm and mock the bow's taut strings,
Exiled on earth amid a jeering crowd,
Prisoned and palsied by their giant wings.
— Translated by Jacques LeClercq
The Albatross
Often, to amuse themselves, the men of the crew
Catch those great birds of the seas, the albatrosses,
lazy companions of the voyage, who follow
The ship that slips through bitter gulfs.
Hardly have they put them on the deck,
Than these kings of the skies, awkward and ashamed,
Piteously let their great white wings
Draggle like oars beside them.
This winged traveler, how weak he becomes and slack!
He who of late was so beautiful, how comical and ugly!
Someone teases his beak with a branding iron,
Another mimics, limping, the crippled flyer!
The Poet is like the prince of the clouds,
Haunting the tempest and laughing at the archer;
Exiled on earth amongst the shouting people,
His giant's wings hinder him from walking.
— Translated by Geoffrey Wagner
poem by Charles Baudelaire
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Hi Chaperone
You know, you know, you know you know you know
I can't go out alone
Hi chaperone, my chaperone
What you think is all wrong
'Cos you shouldn't treat a girl like a game of ping-pong
But I can't go out alone without a chaperone
Hi chaperone, my chaperone
You may say sweet dreams tonight
Blow me a kiss, well I guess that's alright, that's alright
I can't go out alone without a chaperone
Hi chaperone, my chaperone
You may say the streets are safe
In these modern days, but I'm not OK
I can't go out alone without a chaperone
Hi chaperone, my chaperone
I can't go out alone without a chaperone
Hi chaperone, my chaperone
Hi chaperone, my chaperone
Hi chaperone!
Hi chaperone! Hi chaperone! (repeat)
song performed by by X-Ray Spex
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Hi Chaperone
You know, you know, you know you know you know
I can't go out alone
Hi chaperone, my chaperone
What you think is all wrong
'Cos you shouldn't treat a girl like a game of ping-pong
But I can't go out alone without a chaperone
Hi chaperone, my chaperone
You may say sweet dreams tonight
Blow me a kiss, well I guess that's alright, that's alright
I can't go out alone without a chaperone
Hi chaperone, my chaperone
You may say the streets are safe
In these modern days, but I'm not OK
I can't go out alone without a chaperone
Hi chaperone, my chaperone
I can't go out alone without a chaperone
Hi chaperone, my chaperone
Hi chaperone, my chaperone
Hi chaperone!
Hi chaperone! Hi chaperone! (repeat)
song performed by by X-Ray Spex
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Early Works - Men With Wings
For years untold men have looked to the sky,
have tried to build wings on which to fly,
like Icraus who with his wings of wax
soared in the sky like a bird,
but who flew to close to the sun
where his wings melted and to the sea fell.
Other men came and other men tried,
in failure their names in time hide,
but soon the missing element was found,
the element, which could get them off the ground.
An Albatross of plastic wings
soars through the early morning sky
across a channel of salty waves
of which it glides just above.
From Eagle and Dragonfly,
man now has the ability to fly.
Author’s Note:
The above poem was written as a tribute to the men of the Gossamer Albatross who crossed the English Channel on the 12th June 1979.
13 June 1979
poem by David Harris
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Sailing Ships
(coverdale/vandenberg)
Do you remember
Standing on the shore,
Head in the clouds,
Your pockets filled with dreams
Bound for glory
On the seven seas of life,
But, the ocean is deeper than it seems
The wind was with you
When you left on the morning tide,
You set your sail for an island in the sun,
On the horizon, dark clouds up ahead,
For the storm has just begun
Take me with you,
Take me far away,
Lead me to the distant shore
Sail your ship across the water,
Spread your wings across the sky
Take the time to see
Youre the one who holds the key,
Or sailing ships will pass you by
You cry for mercy,
When you think youve lost your way,
You drift alone, if all your hope is gone
So find the strength and you will see
You control, your destiny,
After all is said and done
So take me with you,
Take me far away,
An lead me to the distant shore
Sail your ship across the water,
Spread your wings across the sky
Take the time to see
Youre the one who holds the key,
Or sailing ships will pass,
Sailing ships will pass you,
Sailing ships will pass you by...
Take me with you,
Take me far away,
Well ride the wind across the sky
Spread your wings and you will see
You control, your destiny,
So sailing ships dont pass you by
So take me with you,
Take me far away,
Well ride the wind across the sky
Spread your wings and you will see
You control, your destiny,
So sailing ships dont pass,
So sailing ships dont pass you,
So sailing ships dont pass you by...
Baby, baby, baby, baby,
Youll find that youre the only one
Can sail your ship across the sky
song performed by by Whitesnake
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Success
Kites play with birds and clouds
Delicate wishes get desired wings
He defeats failures with great hardships
And it seems he makes friendship with wind
Dances naked along with his insane whims
But his success depends on how he kisses the ground
Unhurt, unclipped along with storm and rain!
poem by Abdul Wahab
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Teased The Air
They teased the air with their wings,
rising up towards the sun
and there among the clouds they hid
as a new dawn had begun.
The enemy started their dawn patrol
not knowing of this day of reckoning
that stood ahead of them
ten minutes after they rose into the sky.
Out of the sun,
they came like dragons breathing fire.
Diving like a hawk
on its prey below.
The sky was now filled
with angry birds with wooden wings.
They darted across the sky in fights
which some would never return.
Spiralling smoke herald,
another victory for someone
and for the other
life no more.
Their names are recorded
on monuments forever
depicting their victories
and their demise.
As the years pass on
how much do we remember
of these men who teased the air
with their wooden wings
as they flew across the sky.
18 August 2011
Author’s Note:
This was written as a dedication to all the brave aviators on both sides during the First World War when flying was still in its infancy.
D.V.H.
poem by David Harris
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Suitcases Don't Have Wings
Small bags big bags
Black bags white bags
Suitcases hey hey hey
For work and for play
Crammed full of things
Suitcases dont have wings
White bags black bags
Complete with one-way tags
Dragging us down
Ever closer to the ground
All the time they sing
Suitcases dont have wings
Big bags small bags
That behind us we drag
Past present and future
We cram so much in n' gotcha
We've been forgetting
suitcases dont have wings
All bags every bag
That we painfully drag
Drop them at jesus feet
Cause all ur needs he'll meet
Suitcases hey hey hey
They get in the way
Drop them if you want in
Suitcases dont have wings
poem by Joses Tirtabudi
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Poetry: Ode to Eagle
Ode to Eagle
By Laijon Liu 20091010
-O1-
Who are you, my love, soaring so high!
The god of all birds, a king of azure sky
On the precipitous cliff you make home
Off the lofty peak you leap a great dive
You call up the morning sun to ascend
And escort the moon where she roams
Earth revolves under your mighty talons
And heaven is for your wings to mete
-O2-
A pair firm claws, steel dagger sharp
Where your enemies find no escape
Above the vast land or the roaring sea
All livings are under your decree
Your eyes are made of pure gold
To see through the hour of dark night
Who dares to stare at the glorious sun?
And catch the true splendor of light!
-O3-
Upon the high rock you pick your nest
Above the deep sea you set window-view
And facing the cold winds you make love
There you raise young, hatch a brave heart
All worlds look up and envy your spot
But they never know how much you sacrifice
Your title and fame must cost so much
Upon that rocky cliff, in the gushing winds
-O4-
Lonesome and pride is the way of your life
It’s against your deity to group with a flock
No one dares to dictate your hour of flight
And no peak or valley is out of your reach
Toward the sun you stare and rise head on
And into the wintry wave you make a splash
White clouds are for your wings to smash
Rain and snow are your showers and bath
-O5-
Nature has preordained your tragic fate
Struggling since birth, fighting to become
Where your infant bed is a wrestling court
And then your test flight is a deadly dive
Yet you raise your hooked beak proudly
Stretch your broad wings measuring winds
Hop your muscular legs for a great leap
To aim the sun and answer the storm
-O6-
How calm you are, driving the winds above
Rise and fall freely, soar and turn with ease
Where in the sky you find dragon is a myth
And shadow of phoenix disappeared in sun
The idols on earth all become fairytale news
Only your wings and spirit are true examples
Death and fear can never conquer you in life
Dream and desires are all possible to reach
-O7-
Oh my great Bird, a miracle you pursue!
You’re hatched on cliff and born of storm
Sun above you and earth down below
Sky your lodge and death is like a home
In the gushing winds you howl battle cry
Into the cold waves you toy snowflake
Through the challenges you grow strong
And in turmoil and crisis you obtain peace
-O8-
Who is the maker of your striking shape?
Who gifted you a pair golden pupil
For the far vision and detail view?
Who gave you a pair brave wings
To set your faith fly and courage to dive?
Who made your nest on high cliff?
Who drove the winds and storms
And the red sun over the blue sea?
***Who made you, so great? ***
poem by Laijon Liu
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All Fly Away
Moonrise above the rio grande
On this fantasy of sand
As I drift into a dream
And I feel the comet scream
Three birds watching from a rock
And I swear the third one talked
Rise up through the fog and we can
All fly away
All fly away
Lets leave today
And we can climb through time tomorrow.
Space city like a jewel on wings
Rocket ships like bees they sting
Planets of fantastic sight
Floating up in pastel light
Twisted trees in martian breeze
Catch that horse dont let him freeze
Wont you come along and we can all fly away
All fly away, lets leave today
And we can climb through time tomorrow.
We rode a bubble through the sun
We all knew it could be done
There were men with fiery wings
And a million burning things
Silver statues on the run
Bleeding there since kingdom come
Wont you pick them up and we can all fly away
All fly away, lets leave today
And we can climb through time tomorrow
Dragon fly away.
song performed by by Jefferson Starship
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Tale of the Wings
Admiration filled the air
When an angel saw its wings
She needs someone who'll care
Listening every time she sings
Opportunity comes with shyness
Believing the two are not separable
They've come to one with smiles
And flown together as they fall
Closeness almost shut the weak points
Until the breakage has come its way
Silence of suspiciousness changed the noise
And torn their hearts away
The wings are no more living
Yet the angel had gone leaving
It thought it can fly on its own
But no, not without the angel around
The angel is nowhere to be found
No mark of footsteps on the ground
No one knows if it flew on her own
Neither why she had left her wings alone
poem by Genesis Bernaldez
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Beak Kind To Birds!
Beak kind to birds both near and far,
Both high and low as well...
To me, each bird's a superstar!
In fact, to me, they're swell!
Beak kind to birds and show you care
With titbits now and then...
And watch with wonder as they share
Their breakfast once again!
Beak kind and keep your cats at bay...
Else feeding birds take flight!
It's nicer seeing birds at play
Than watching them take fright!
Beak kind to birds, give them their space
So they may co-exist...
For none on Earth can take their place,
So they'd be sorely missed!
Beak kind to birds, they'll flock to you -
They're all our feathered friends!
It doesn't matter, black or blue...
Beak kind - 'cos it makes sense!
poem by Denis Martindale (2003)
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Knock over
I feel embarrassed.
I have sailed almost fifteen years
but I never had a nostalgia as today.
If I can borrow a pair of old wings
from a friendly bird,
I promise you to give whatever you want.
I just want to fly home and come back
definitely I'll return your wings.
poem by Nimal Dunuhinga
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Riding Through The Storm
The winds of life will blow
Theyre sure to come and go
They meet me at a time when Im calm and feeling fine
But the captain of my soul is always on board
He rocks me in his arms
While Im riding through the storm
While riding through the storm
Jesus hold me in his arms
And I am not afraid of the stormy winds and the rains
Although clouds become high
Jesus holds me while I ride
I find safety in the masters arms
While Im riding through a storm
I have no fear on the raging sea
Knowing jesus is there for me
He can speak to the winds and the wave
And make them behave
All powers in his hand
On sea or dry land
I find safety in my masters arms
While Im riding through a storm
Riding through a storm
song performed by by Donna Summer
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Flying Cow
Millie Moo Cow was grazing
in a field on day
when her fairy godmother
came to pay a visit to her.
Millie you are a good old cow
and your days are not yet through.
If I had wish for you
what would that wish be fore?
Millie chewed at her cud
and thought for a bit.
I would like a pair of wings
so I could fly like the birds
and then I could find the green fields
with all the tenders shoots to graze upon.
The fairy godmother waved her wand
and on Millie, two beautiful wings grew.
Millie flapped her new wings
and into the sky, she flew.
As she, few around she caused quite a stir.
Looking down she remembered
all those who had tormented her.
Now she had wings she could get her revenge.
She dived and did a somersault
and then began her bombing run
laying on them cow pats big and round.
People ran for cover as Millie flew on by.
Tiring of her games in a green field, she landed.
Her fairy godmother wasn’t pleased.
You were only supposed to look for green fields
not go bombarding people with your poo.
For your bad behaviour,
I’m taking your wings away from you.
She waved her magic wand again
and Millie’s wings were gone.
The moral of this story is
when they say do unto others as they do unto you.
You will be punished
so go do it first.
poem by David Harris
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As It Is
If you and I
Had wings to fly -
Great wings like seagulls' wings -
How would we soar
Above the roar
Of loud unneeded things!
We two would rise
Through changing skies
To blue unclouded space,
And undismayed
And unafraid
Meet the sun face to face.
But wings we know not;
The feathers grow not
To carry us so high;
And low in the gloom
Of a little room
We weep and say good-bye.
poem by Edith Nesbit
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Tales Of A Wayside Inn : Part 2. The Musician's Tale; The Ballad of Carmilhan - IV.
And now along the horizon's edge
Mountains of cloud uprose,
Black as with forests underneath,
Above their sharp and jagged teeth
Were white as drifted snows.
Unseen behind them sank the sun,
But flushed each snowy peak
A little while with rosy light
That faded slowly from the sight
As blushes from the cheek.
Black grew the sky,--all black, all black;
The clouds were everywhere;
There was a feeling of suspense
In nature, a mysterious sense
Of terror in the air.
And all on board the Valdemar
Was still as still could be;
Save when the dismal ship-bell tolled,
As ever and anon she rolled,
And lurched into the sea.
The captain up and down the deck
Went striding to and fro;
Now watched the compass at the wheel,
Now lifted up his hand to feel
Which way the wind might blow.
And now he looked up at the sails,
And now upon the deep;
In every fibre of his frame
He felt the storm before it came,
He had no thought of sleep.
Eight bells! and suddenly abaft,
With a great rush of rain,
Making the ocean white with spume,
In darkness like the day of doom,
On came the hurricane.
The lightning flashed from cloud to cloud,
And rent the sky in two;
A jagged flame, a single jet
Of white fire, like a bayonet_
That pierced the eyeballs through.
Then all around was dark again,
And blacker than before;
But in that single flash of light
He had beheld a fearful sight,
And thought of the oath he swore.
For right ahead lay the Ship of the Dead,
The ghostly Carmilhan!
Her masts were stripped, her yards were bare,
And on her bowsprit, poised in air,
Sat the Klaboterman.
Her crew of ghosts was all on deck
Or clambering up the shrouds;
The boatswain's whistle, the captain's hail,
Were like the piping of the gale,
And thunder in the clouds.
And close behind the Carmilhan
There rose up from the sea,
As from a foundered ship of stone,
Three bare and splintered masts alone:
They were the Chimneys Three.
And onward dashed the Valdemar
And leaped into the dark;
A denser mist, a colder blast,
A little shudder, and she had passed
Right through the Phantom Bark.
She cleft in twain the shadowy hulk,
But cleft it unaware;
As when, careering to her nest,
The sea-gull severs with her breast
The unresisting air.
Again the lightning flashed; again
They saw the Carmilhan,
Whole as before in hull and spar;
But now on board of the Valdemar
Stood the Klaboterman.
And they all knew their doom was sealed;
They knew that death was near;
Some prayed who never prayed before,
And some they wept, and some they swore,
And some were mute with fear.
Then suddenly there came a shock,
And louder than wind or sea
A cry burst from the crew on deck,
As she dashed and crashed, a hopeless wreck,
Upon the Chimneys Three.
The storm and night were passed, the light
To streak the east began;
The cabin-boy, picked up at sea,
Survived the wreck, and only he,
To tell of the Carmilhan.
poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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Invincible wings
When you are totally hopeless, do not despair
Just close your eyes and calm yourself
Then imagine you have a pair of invincible wings
That will lift your hope up from the pit.
When you are totally tired, do not despair
Just close your eyes and calm yourself
Then imagine you have a pair of invincible wings
That will give you strength to continue your flying
When you are hurt, do not despair
Just close your eyes and calm yourself
Then imagine you have a pair of invincible wings
That will take you to the sanctuary of healing
With these invincible wings you can survive
Any storm that you will meet in your life
With these invincible wings you can fly
As high as you can imagine in the sky.
poem by Henry Chen
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A Fated Sky
Dedicated to the aviators of two major wars.
They flew across a fated sky
in wings of wood.
Never knowing if
they would fly another day.
Their life expectancy
was not very great
as they winged away at dawn
to start another day.
It was not only other warbirds
they had to worry about,
but ground forces
as they shot at them from below.
However, they are remembered
as brave and courageous men.
Who dared a fated sky
in their wings of wood.
18 March 2008
poem by David Harris
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I Stopped In The Green Rice Field
they pass me by
and they did not notice
how i stop my walk
and
feasted on the white heron
on tall yellow legs
my eyes in wonder
the beauty without
my spirit has wings
lifted to the flight of the white
wings of that bird,
so light, so swift, so free.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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