Some have broken the bounds of the narrow land Laid open the book of dreams Drawn doorways in the sand walked through Shadow to the many worlds With fellowship and dread companions From the last castle to the Gaean Reach strangers and pilgrims in a strange land, progressing, our destination universe. The farthest star but a mote in God's eye. When the world turned upside down, through a splinter in the mind's eye, recall who goes there, out of the dark? A star rider on a steel horse, a rite of passage through abyss of wonder, shelters of stone to the starpilot's grave. // clan of cave bear to the lioness rampant I saw the doors of his mouth open and the lamps of his eyes shine. A final rose bloom for Ecclesiastes, and no night, ever, without stars. What's it like out there -- Skagganauk, or the space beyond, the birthplace of creation, or the crossroads of time? There is time enough for love. Soul music in a minor key, sung by no woman born In a many-colored land: red, blue, and green. East of Eden, children of the mind await their childhood's end. The player of games is gonna roll the bones. Computers don't argue, the right to arm bears is in the bone Equal rites are observed, And no man sayeth call him lord. There are Skylarks three in an alien sky; from homely house to lonely mountain the long patrol guards moss and flower; a stainless steel rat runs for president (to hell and back). Sheep are electric. The horse and his boy dream of dancing mountains. All cats are gray, walking between the walls To say nothing of the dog that bays with five mouths the fool moon. Creatures there are of light and darkness: When true night falls on the borders of infinity two suns setting cast slithering shadows across the long tomorrow. Ancient, my enemy, the old gods waken. Alas, Babylon! The city and the stars! Wolves across the border A feral darkness, the darkness that comes before, Beyond the black river. I will fear no evil, not the hills of the dead nor the black god's kiss, the wings in the night, or the red nails' gleam; Daemon, sidhe-devil, or devil in iron or the nine billion names of God, for the stars are also fire and the stars burn. Soldier, ask not of unfinished tales or a dry, quiet war. Take iron counsel of the cold equations. Till we have faces, lest the long night fall, Raise the sword of Rhiannon Set a fire upon the deep. More than honor, we few, Wee free men, the high crusade, Seek Armageddon inheritance In the service of the sword. Sleeper, awaken! from this alien shore To your scattered bodies go A citizen of the galaxy and not this pale blue dot Bid farewell again to the cool, green hills of earth I have space suit and I will travel The stars are my destination These stars are already ours.