So far away against the evening sky
A tiny speck marks out a distant bird,
The spreading wings, aloft, they seem so high
The Whining of the motors can be heard.
But now amid those shining clouds of light
The ship grows larger in the sunset gleam,
And as the sun drops down and out of sight,
A sacred land of beauty it does seem.
The giant ship grows larger as the land
Is filled with evenings rosy sunset hue.
The roar grows louder as the silvery bird
Comes closer in that deepening sea of blue.
So high it seems, and filled with evenings song,
As over head it glides with grace and power.
While on its certain course it sails along,
A scene of beauty in this twilight hour.
But now ’tis but a little speck again.
The giant ship will soon be out of sight,
As far against the shading evening sky,
The droning motors hum with all their might.
The bird is gone, but it will come again,
For on the morrow it again will fly,
So graceful, as the evenings come and go
The silvery ship will glide across the sky.
And to mankind, we dedicate a song
For skill in bringing forth machines that fly;
And to our God we offer up a prayer
Of thanks for setting them to sail the sky.
(1938)