Dynamic Soaring 2

[Stephen Whiteside]

This is a second attempt to write a poem about a concept - dynamic soaring - that I have explained in a reply to the first attempt.

It moves in curves, and never straight.
It doesn't matter if it's late.
It doesn't matter if it's early.
Life's a constant hurly burly.

Main thing is to save on gas.
The wind is but a moving mass
Of air, and once you understand
Its movement relative to land

Or sea, then you will have the power
To fly for hour on joyful hour.
Such, then, is the albatross.
Of all the seabirds, it's the boss.

Friction means the air is pinned
By water, so there's little wind
Down near the surface of the sea,
While higher, it blows mightily.

The albatross is not a fool.
This change in wind becomes its tool
To take control of all the sky
And do what it excels at - fly.

It moves between these two extremes
Without exposing any seams.
It sacrifices need for lift,
Exploiting Nature's splendid gift,

Then sacrifices height for speed,
And thus has scarcely any need
To flap its wings and burn up fat.
How neat, how smart, how fine is that?

Stephen Whiteside 27.09.2013

[Terry]

I've read them both as well Stephen and I reckon they both compliment each other.

If I had to make a choice, I'd probably go for this one.

Terry

[Stephen Whiteside]

OK. Thanks, Terry.