The sky was filled with darkening clouds
As they boarded their aircraft at dawn.
A typhoon was churning, heading their way.
When it arrived, they hoped to be gone.

They waited on the rain soaked apron
For their precious freight to arrive.
And when it did, it came with full storm,
They wondered if they'd get there alive.

Both engines were started against the wind
The rain became heavy and deep.
They measured the runway and leapt into the air
And the navigator began to weep.

They were buffeted up and buffeted down,
The winds came from every which way.
The ebony sky gave no clue to horizon
They were in for a very long day.

Their mission of mercy in raging skies ?
To deliver rare blood in short time.
A life in the balance - a comrade in arms,
Now they prayed for the aircraft to climb.

Four of the five worked very hard
Coaxing the aircraft to fly,
Suppressing their fears, doing their jobs,
But the navigator continued to cry.

The storm and its fury worsened with time,
The aircraft was tossed like a kite.
An engine sputtered and gave up its life,
And it was needed to maintain the flight.

The pilot struggled to maintain control
As the plane began to descend.
The co-pilot tried to restart the engine
And both would work hard to the end.

The radioman sent out a 'Mayday',
Explaining their perilous plight.
And though, by then it was mid morning,
Two planes were sent into the night.

The flight mechanic lightened the load.
He left a very strange trail,
He offered up parts and blood to the wind
As the navigator continued to wail.

'What is your position and fuel ?',
Asked the controller in somber mood.
The radioman looked at the navigator,
Then figured it the best that he could.

The aircraft continued descending,
Down, down toward the boiling sea.
The radioman sent out his best position,
Then screwed down his Morse code key.

At three hundred feet above the sea,
They entered the eye of the storm.
Free of the jolting turbulence,
Their lifeless wing was reborn.

At two hundred feet above the sea,
They began a tenacious climb.
And with the ascent, all tension left,
They all felt strangely sublime.

They climbed as hard and fast as they could,
For they had to re-enter the storm.
They all worked hard preparing their ship
To be in its very best form.

When they re-entered the raging winds,
Most were at peace with their gods.
Still, the typhoon's fury was reaching its height
And they prayed against structural flaws.

Aircraft and men became as one,
Yes, even the navigator.
But though even he had collected himself,
He was still the worst aviator.

Aircraft and men safely arrived,
The patient's life was saved.
At the end of the daring, harrowing flight,
All recriminations were waived.

How was the life of the patient saved
When their cargo was tossed to the wind ?
A poll was taken, a donor found,
It didn't matter that he had sinned.

A party was given to honor their courage,
Especially the navigator.
Although he wasn't that good in the storm,
He was a heroically good blood donor.

Copyright 1984 Louis J. Rose All Rights Reserved.