The Grim Ace Poem by Jonathan Andrews

Lonely as a cloud I wandered,
Deer and doe above went I.
When at once my engine sputtered;
Then I fluttered, could not fly.
First I panicked, but recovered,
I, the grim ace of the sky.

Lonely was the day-light gleaming,
Gleaming brightly in the sky.
Round about me white clouds glimmered,
Peaceful was what I could spy.
All upon me sunlight shimmered,
I, the grim ace of the sky.

Suddenly ere'thing fell silent,
Silent; dead; still; as a rock.
I listened, watched, and waited, patient,
Ev'rything seemed me to mock.
A foe did lurk; in watching, smirked,
At me, the grim ace of the sky.

Suddenly, I heard the whining,
Saw the glinting plane--a bi.
Each few seconds came he closer,
Drawing to my plane more nigh.
So then went I ever faster,
Toward the enemy of I.

Well I aimed, my target growing;
Hit I could, without a try.
Waiting not, I shot the fore-guns:
In my sights, the plane would fry.
Alas, behind him was the bright sun,
He, the enemy of I.

Bright the flash was when I fired,
With one hit, the plane would die.
What's this, lo, my shot goes yonder?
Yonder, where the clouds do lie?
No time did I have to ponder,
I, the grim ace of the sky.

As I flew, he fired on me;
I could see the cold, gray line.
It was coming nearer to me;
On my ship the slugs would dine.
Quickly I dived, readjusted,
I, the grim ace of the sky.

As a flash, I quickly fired;
On the bi my sights did lie.
Both my fingers squeezed the trigger,
All my bullets then did fly.
No chance had I now of firing
On the enemy of I.

Saw I now the plane twitch slightly,
Far below the ground did lie.
Now I saw my bullets hit him,
The bi nosed off in a dive.
Falling swiftly, ever spinning,
He, the falling, twisting bi.

Still I wander; lonely, cloudlike,
Deer and doe, still o'er I fly.
When'ere I see my engine sputter,
When I'm hit, or I might die,
Then I know, when I've recovered:
I'm still the grim ace of the sky.