For Maggie, Eldritch and all the rest don’t seem so far out of reach any more.

Fire and wind breath through the night
Hope follows close, chasing the light.
Candles flare brightly and answer the stars,
And echoes of laughter claim what is ours.

Hands reaching upwards to follow the flame
Of rocket ships burning the future to tame,
And men welcome Luna after so long away
And build with their laughter a new place to stay.

Then once they’ve grounded themselves in the stars
They turn to their vessels and set sail to Mars.
There they are met by a warrior grim
With tears in his eyes that we made it to him!

Once more comes building, then we turn further on
To greet Jove and then Saturn and Pluto e’er long.
And even old Pluto, dark and alone
Cannot yet hold us, or not very long.

The stars that are calling are now in our reach
To those who risk falling they loudly beseech.
Board now that vessel, how far will it go?
And the wonders of ages the stars gladly show.

Outward Bound copyright © Heather Strickler 2026 all rights reserved