Out, far and onward yet...

[john_yik]

The arching sky is calling
Earth's spacemen to their trade.
ALL HANDS! STAND CLEAR! FREE FALLING!
And the lights below us fade.

Out ride the sons of Terra,
Far drives the thundering jet,
Up leaps a race of Earthmen,
Out, far and onward yet--

We pray for one last landing
On the globe that gave us birth;
Let us rest our eyes on the friendly skies
And the cool, green hills of Earth.

--Robert A Heinlein,
The Green Hills of Earth