(Posted to rec.aviation.misc February 1995)
(With apologies to Shel Silverstein) I've never flown a crippled 'Fort Through a flaming wall of flak I've never saved a buddy, wounded, by carryin' him on my back. I've never hauled the midnight mail o'er the Andes of Peru Nor struggled under tons of ice in a Douglas DC-2. I've never dived a screaming SPAD to pick a Hun off Eddie's tail I've never gripped a B-36's stick as engines one through seven fail. I've never dived a fifty-one nor looped a thirty-eight My hours are flown in Cessnas, all civil and sedate. I live these tales of thunder in my comfortable armchair But in my heart I know I'd rather, be HERE instead of THERE! THE END