*Aut viam inveniam aut faciam. – Hannibal
That was three thousand years ago,
A man, watching wistfully into the sky
Where gulls hovering in the rainbow,
Thought, that man can both run and fly.
So he built himself two wings. And
Trusting them and trying to glide,
Icarus his son, wielding each hand,
Fell into the sea and rested inside.
Undaunted, life carries on the dream…
Thirty generations passed. Leonardo,
Spirit made flesh, inspired to stream
Across his drawings a machine; below,
A phrase left in the notes that rings
Like a bell stamped in the deepest
Memory: “There shall be wings!”
Da Vinci failed and died, blessed.
But this dream, life still carries on.
Generations failed and passed, men
Said: “Stop, for God frowns upon
All these doomed attempts.” And then
Men flew! Life is that which can
Hold one purpose for three thousand
Years and never yield. And through an
Ancient voice, death will understand:
Planning, mounting, attaining, longing…
The individual dies but dream succeeds.
The individual fails but life, attempting
Tirelessly and triumphantly proceeds!
*Aut viam inveniam aut faciam (Latin): I shall either find a way, or make a way.
