By John Hertz: (reprinted from Vanamonde 1300)
Take my hand, I’m a ranger in SF-land;
All lost in a wonderland, a ranger in SF-land.
If I float starry-eyed, that’s a danger in SF-land
For any who come aboard minds of pros and fans too.
I saw its face and I ascended
Out of the commonplace into the rare.
Somewhere in space I hang suspended
While I set aside Is it true for We dare.
Won’t you fly with me? We’ll meet strangers in SF-land.
We’ll pass beyond can’t and can through imagining’s door.
With open hearts we’ll join all the rangers in SF-land
Who while dreaming dreams need be mundane no more.
R. Wright & G. Forrest, “Stranger in Paradise” (1953); A. Borodin, “The Gliding Dance of the Maidens”, Prince Igor (1890)
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Love it! Heard Tony Bennett sing these verses in my mind.
I heard John Williams (the English actor) say “I’m sure you recognize this lovely melody as ‘Stranger in Paradise.’ But did you know…”