I went to see Bill last night
Lying in his flag-draped coffin
Flight plan in his pocket
Blue cap in hand
And a smile on his face
An Eagle Scout
He'd been prepared
To live in jungle's tangled growth
His unit decimated
Cut off from friendly lines
Two weeks alone
Among the enemy
He survived
He gave back to others
What had brought him through
Guiding tenderfeet
On Scouting paths
My son knew his tough love
But it was the love of flight
That drew Bill in the end
The dream to build
As first flyers built
A fragile craft
An ultra-light
To take him into the sky
I drove below that afternoon
Not knowing it was he
I watched the plane
On his last flight
Chugging a low and ragged arc
Above suburban sprawl
Was it a gust of wind
That drew him down
And slammed him into earth
Was he prepared
Did he know
The outer limits of his craft or man?
He was a first flyer
Daring the unknown
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