Tether
We'll try to grab him even at this speed,
the rocket screaming down again past where
he lost the tether. Knowing Horton, he'd
expect no less of us. Boy's got a pair,
I'll give him that! Go easy on the juice
there, Bosun. Yeah, we'll swing around and hook
his harness. Quite a jolt... But what's the use
in that? With no alternative, well... Look,
we hook him or he's dead - no in-between!
Just steady, now, young Horton - almost there...
He'll try to hold his breath to stretch the lean
supply of air, that kid! He needs a prayer!
Alright, now... steady on... a bit to port...
The boy would know this line's our last resort...
© Keith Ward 2006
Another 1950's-style-SF sonnet inspired by a Photoshopped (gradient map) hand-held long exposure photo of lights on the highway at night.
I'm continually amazed at what comes out of these night shots! I mean... just look at this image... The first thing I saw in it was that spaceship zooming down to the left (I see it as a 1950s style ship, flying upsidedown, the tail fin underneath), thrusters firing their yellow flame, the broken tether flapping wildly, and the one hope of the drifting crewmember - the hook-tether - highlighted dramatically near the center of the picture. Any other blue or yellow streaks in the image would just be streaks evoking speed that such a 1950s two-toned teen-magazine illustration would incorporate (like Boy's Life, which had some terrific teen-oriented space adventures).
Yup... I'm in awe of what chance and human perception can do with images... This one, like the others posted on flickr, inspired a SF vignette in sonnet.
Click here for more about this image and this series, SF Sonnets.
Tether
We'll try to grab him even at this speed,
the rocket screaming down again past where
he lost the tether. Knowing Horton, he'd
expect no less of us. Boy's got a pair,
I'll give him that! Go easy on the juice
there, Bosun. Yeah, we'll swing around and hook
his harness. Quite a jolt... But what's the use
in that? With no alternative, well... Look,
we hook him or he's dead - no in-between!
Just steady, now, young Horton - almost there...
He'll try to hold his breath to stretch the lean
supply of air, that kid! He needs a prayer!
Alright, now... steady on... a bit to port...
The boy would know this line's our last resort...
© Keith Ward 2006
Another 1950's-style-SF sonnet inspired by a Photoshopped (gradient map) hand-held long exposure photo of lights on the highway at night.
I'm continually amazed at what comes out of these night shots! I mean... just look at this image... The first thing I saw in it was that spaceship zooming down to the left (I see it as a 1950s style ship, flying upsidedown, the tail fin underneath), thrusters firing their yellow flame, the broken tether flapping wildly, and the one hope of the drifting crewmember - the hook-tether - highlighted dramatically near the center of the picture. Any other blue or yellow streaks in the image would just be streaks evoking speed that such a 1950s two-toned teen-magazine illustration would incorporate (like Boy's Life, which had some terrific teen-oriented space adventures).
Yup... I'm in awe of what chance and human perception can do with images... This one, like the others posted on flickr, inspired a SF vignette in sonnet.
Click here for more about this image and this series, SF Sonnets.