{"id":598,"date":"2026-10-02T16:47:17","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T21:47:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/?p=598"},"modified":"2026-10-02T16:47:17","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T21:47:17","slug":"outward-bound","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2026\/10\/02\/outward-bound\/","title":{"rendered":"Outward Bound"},"content":{"rendered":"

For Maggie, Eldritch and all the rest don\u2019t seem so far out of reach any more.<\/em><\/p>\n

Fire and wind breath through the night
\nHope follows close, chasing the light.
\nCandles flare brightly and answer the stars,
\nAnd echoes of laughter claim what is ours.<\/p>\n

Hands reaching upwards to follow the flame
\nOf rocket ships burning the future to tame,
\nAnd men welcome Luna after so long away
\nAnd build with their laughter a new place to stay.<\/p>\n

Then once they\u2019ve grounded themselves in the stars
\nThey turn to their vessels and set sail to Mars.
\nThere they are met by a warrior grim
\nWith tears in his eyes that we made it to him!<\/p>\n

Once more comes building, then we turn further on
\nTo greet Jove and then Saturn and Pluto e\u2019er long.
\nAnd even old Pluto, dark and alone
\nCannot yet hold us, or not very long.<\/p>\n

The stars that are calling are now in our reach
\nTo those who risk falling they loudly beseech.
\nBoard now that vessel, how far will it go?
\nAnd the wonders of ages the stars gladly show.<\/p>\n

Outward Bound<\/em> copyright \u00a9 Heather Strickler 2026 all rights reserved<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For Maggie, Eldritch and all the rest don\u2019t 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… Read More Outward Bound<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":599,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[14,13],"tags":[28,19,12,20,11,17,30,18,25],"class_list":["post-598","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-poetry","category-writing","tag-adventure","tag-childrens","tag-hope","tag-mood","tag-poetry","tag-story","tag-thoughts","tag-whimsy","tag-wonder"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/OutwardBound.jpg?fit=600%2C600","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/parUcj-9E","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":370,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/04\/08\/star-voyage\/","url_meta":{"origin":598,"position":0},"title":"Star Voyage","author":"Heather","date":"April 8, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"For a boy I know who wants to be on the first manned mission to Spica. The stars are calling, calling, calling Across the sea of space and time And I am running to where they\u2019re sprawling And I will make them mine! With my rocket wrapped around me And\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Star-Voyage.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Star-Voyage.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Star-Voyage.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":546,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2026\/04\/20\/fairy-stars\/","url_meta":{"origin":598,"position":1},"title":"Fairy Stars","author":"Heather","date":"April 20, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Something bright for you. I hope you enjoy it. The stars sing in the gloaming To little fairy ears The dragon pauses his roaming And remembers all he hears. The children come to the window Though they should be in bed, And in the light of the fire glow Hear\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/FairyStars.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/FairyStars.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/FairyStars.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":292,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2024\/11\/05\/292\/","url_meta":{"origin":598,"position":2},"title":"Do Not Fear the Darkness","author":"Heather","date":"November 5, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Some hope on what is likely to be a stressful day. I wrote this Sunday but it seemed appropriate for today. The light is ever burning It cannot be laid low. It shines through every darkness Bringing hope with its glow. Do not fear the darkness It cannot stand the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Do-not-fear-the-darkness.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Do-not-fear-the-darkness.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Do-not-fear-the-darkness.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":289,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2024\/11\/04\/a-prayer-in-the-darkness\/","url_meta":{"origin":598,"position":3},"title":"A Prayer in the Darkness","author":"Heather","date":"November 4, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Dark as the world is, there is hope. I rarely go this religious here; however, I hope it brings hope even for those who are not religious. Through trials and tribulations That come from worldly woes And breaking hearts' prostration For rescue from our foes. A pleading cry arises To\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/A-Prayer-in-the-Darkness.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/A-Prayer-in-the-Darkness.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/A-Prayer-in-the-Darkness.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":160,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2022\/08\/18\/memory-and-light\/","url_meta":{"origin":598,"position":4},"title":"Memory and Light","author":"Heather","date":"August 18, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"This is the second week into what I'm hoping to make my weekly poetry corner. 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