Amelia

In May of 1932, Amelia Earhart made history by flying her red Lockheed Vega from Harbor Grace, Newfoundland, to Londonderry, Northern Ireland. She was the first woman to make the transatlantic flight solo, winning world-wide acclaim for her "courage like a lion." In her own words, she said, "After midnight, the moon set, and I was alone with the stars."

from the Smithsonian Open Access collection

Amelia

A red bird flitting through the clouds

In nineteen-thirty-two,

The harbor slipped away from sight,

She turned into the blue.

In her heart a fire burned,

"Courage!" Roared her soul,

As on into the falling dusk,
On ever toward her goal.

Oh, slowly sinks the sun away,

Flees every golden bar,

Yet still onward, ever on,

Alone, but for the stars.

She flies towards Ireland's shamrock green;

Will failure be her lot?

The moon, now hidden by the clouds, 

Tells its secrets not.

And then in outline coastal gray

She glimpses dew-kissed shore!

At last, tis triumph that she tastes,

The leader gone before!

Oh, slowly sank the sun away,

Fled all golden bars,

Yet she rose with dreams ablaze,

Alone, but for the stars.

Today we face the great unknown;

Have you dreams deep kindled, too?

Will you let them perish all,

Or launch into the blue?

Follow not as passenger

The song your dreams do sing,

But slip into the cockpit

And pursue on hastened wing!

For surely shall sun sink away,

Flee all golden bars;

You will find your dreams someday

Among the shining stars.