The Glider Pilots Lament
Ask me no questions, and I’ll tell you no lies
I bombed out today, fell out of the sky
I was heading down course, as fast as I could
With everything going, just as it should
Into a thermal, hear the vario scream
Crank it on over, you know what I mean
I’m heading for heaven, at better than seven
Then pulling the pin, as I pass through eleven
Out of that thermal, out onto glide
Feeling at ease taking all in my stride
Straight down the course, at best speed-to-fly
Sink alarm winging, I start to ask why?
I haven’t had shit, for over 10 K
And I’m sinking out fast, I see with dismay
A thermal, a thermal, a thermal I need
I put on the brakes, back off on the speed
Then I hit a bump, relax or you’ll lose it
I crank it around, trying to use it
Still sinking out, it seems so unfair
Pick out a landing, just over there
An eagle, and eagle, an eagle I’m saved
But as I watch, it’s just not my day
This eagle it seems, wasn’t going to goal
No great surprise, that isn’t his role
He circled on down, to land in a tree
Quite closely followed by glider and me
So if you ask me, "What happened today?"
This is ‘bout all that you’ll get me to say
Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose
To climb or to glide? You get to choose
So I didn’t win, although I planned it
I bombed out today, and bloody well landed