Many of you knew my husband, Robert Burroughs, as a friend on Facebook. Some of you knew him as Robert DeBurgh, the author of Riders of the Wind and Winds of Fate. Others knew him from his 50+ years in aviation or through his passion for classic motorcycles and cars.
However you came in contact with Bob, your first impression pegged him as being friendly, considerate, honest, giving, knowledgeable, and a multi-talented person. He was pretty transparent in showing the world what made him tick. But there were a few faces my husband revealed only to certain people, such as his artistic side. His paintings are amazing! Then there’s his poetry which opened his soul to reveal his deepest fears, loves, and feelings. More about that in a bit. First, we need a little more background.
As a professional pilot, he logged over 17,000 hours flying numerous types of airplanes, from Aeronca Champs to Boeing 747s. Bob’s quest for adventure landed him some interesting piloting gigs around the globe. Some jobs turned out to be a bit more exciting than advertised – like when he ‘accidentally’ became caught up in a military coup in the Dominican Republic or when his airplane became the target of surface-to-air missiles in Southwest Africa.
During the mid-1960s, the political situation in the Dominican Republic wasn’t very stable. Robert was working as a contract flight instructor at the air base in Santo Domingo when all hell broke loose. The air force needed experienced pilots and drafted Bob to serve as a major in the Dominican Air Force. He was young and daring and thought it was fun buzzing the harbor and the capital in his F-86. That is until he received a knock on his door at three o’clock in the morning. Two men wearing dark sunglasses and dressed in black suits strongly suggested he return to the USA the following day or else become a Dominican citizen … Fun over, he returned home.
A few years later, his best friend suggested they go to Southwest Africa (now Namibia) and fly BN2 Islanders for the country’s domestic airline. The lure of going to Africa outweighed their caution over the warnings of violence throughout the country. The SWAPOs (Southwest Africa People’s Organization) had been making significant gains in advocating for independence from South Africa.
Bob recalled never knowing when a group of fighters would emerge from cover and shoot at his airplane. He wasn’t worried about handguns and rifles since he could fly above the range of bullets. But when the SWAPOs acquired surface-to-air missiles, the strategy underwent a drastic modification – cruise at tree-top level so the guerillas wouldn’t have time to aim before the plane passed overhead. Unfortunately, that plan didn’t work all the time. Bob decided it was time to go home after viewing a passing missile up close and personal.
Dodging missiles tempered Bob’s pursuit of adventure, leading him to choose tamer international duties. The new methodology worked to his advantage. While training 747 flight engineers in South America, he had the privilege of traveling around the continent, meeting indigenous folks and learning their cultures, traditions, rituals, and love of the land.
This is where we get back to the poetry. The things he learned from the elders changed him and transformed his thinking and attitude. His eyes and mind were opened to see and understand that he was just a small part of the natural world.
After that experience, he wrote Changes. Below is an excerpt from that poem.
However you came in contact with Bob, your first impression pegged him as being friendly, considerate, honest, giving, knowledgeable, and a multi-talented person. He was pretty transparent in showing the world what made him tick. But there were a few faces my husband revealed only to certain people, such as his artistic side. His paintings are amazing! Then there’s his poetry which opened his soul to reveal his deepest fears, loves, and feelings. More about that in a bit. First, we need a little more background.
As a professional pilot, he logged over 17,000 hours flying numerous types of airplanes, from Aeronca Champs to Boeing 747s. Bob’s quest for adventure landed him some interesting piloting gigs around the globe. Some jobs turned out to be a bit more exciting than advertised – like when he ‘accidentally’ became caught up in a military coup in the Dominican Republic or when his airplane became the target of surface-to-air missiles in Southwest Africa.
During the mid-1960s, the political situation in the Dominican Republic wasn’t very stable. Robert was working as a contract flight instructor at the air base in Santo Domingo when all hell broke loose. The air force needed experienced pilots and drafted Bob to serve as a major in the Dominican Air Force. He was young and daring and thought it was fun buzzing the harbor and the capital in his F-86. That is until he received a knock on his door at three o’clock in the morning. Two men wearing dark sunglasses and dressed in black suits strongly suggested he return to the USA the following day or else become a Dominican citizen … Fun over, he returned home.
A few years later, his best friend suggested they go to Southwest Africa (now Namibia) and fly BN2 Islanders for the country’s domestic airline. The lure of going to Africa outweighed their caution over the warnings of violence throughout the country. The SWAPOs (Southwest Africa People’s Organization) had been making significant gains in advocating for independence from South Africa.
Bob recalled never knowing when a group of fighters would emerge from cover and shoot at his airplane. He wasn’t worried about handguns and rifles since he could fly above the range of bullets. But when the SWAPOs acquired surface-to-air missiles, the strategy underwent a drastic modification – cruise at tree-top level so the guerillas wouldn’t have time to aim before the plane passed overhead. Unfortunately, that plan didn’t work all the time. Bob decided it was time to go home after viewing a passing missile up close and personal.
Dodging missiles tempered Bob’s pursuit of adventure, leading him to choose tamer international duties. The new methodology worked to his advantage. While training 747 flight engineers in South America, he had the privilege of traveling around the continent, meeting indigenous folks and learning their cultures, traditions, rituals, and love of the land.
This is where we get back to the poetry. The things he learned from the elders changed him and transformed his thinking and attitude. His eyes and mind were opened to see and understand that he was just a small part of the natural world.
After that experience, he wrote Changes. Below is an excerpt from that poem.
I have traveled the high plains and peaks of the Andes.
Seen the reed boats on Lake Titicaca in the summer
And the ruins of the Incas.
I have seen the herds of llama and the wild guanaco.
In the evenings, I rested in the huts and listened to the songs.
I spoke with the people,
And I was changed
I have climbed the Andean trails to the ruins of antiquity.
Seen the legacy of Cerro Alto and the mystery of Cerro Sechín
With its myriad tiny rooms.
I have seen the marvel of Machu Picchu and opened my mind to the spirits there.
In the dark of night, I heard the whispering voices of ages past.
I listened to the ghosts,
And I was changed
I have tramped the green forests and plains of the Pantanal.
Seen the rain moving in sheets across the round lakes and green marshes
Teeming with wildlife.
I have heard the call of birds, and the cough of the jaguar.
I have seen the traditions of the Indians, spoiled now by modern ways.
I spoke of old wisdoms in the night with the shamans, listened to their words,
And I was changed
I have looked down upon the emerald forests of the Mato Grosso.
Seen the mighty Amazon in her epic journey from the Andes to the sea,
World’s longest and most mysterious river.
I have seen where the Rio Negro joins the stream;
The waters flow side by side and do not mix.
I bathed in waters filled with fierce piranhas, anacondas, and graceful pink dolphins,
And I was changed
All this have I done. All this have I seen. All this have I learned.
But there is more to see, more to learn.
I have not traveled
The bottom of the sea nor the cold silent vacuum of space.
I have not spoken to the ones who have been to those places.
Where now shall my feet guide me? What more shall I learn?
And now, how shall I be changed?
Seen the reed boats on Lake Titicaca in the summer
And the ruins of the Incas.
I have seen the herds of llama and the wild guanaco.
In the evenings, I rested in the huts and listened to the songs.
I spoke with the people,
And I was changed
I have climbed the Andean trails to the ruins of antiquity.
Seen the legacy of Cerro Alto and the mystery of Cerro Sechín
With its myriad tiny rooms.
I have seen the marvel of Machu Picchu and opened my mind to the spirits there.
In the dark of night, I heard the whispering voices of ages past.
I listened to the ghosts,
And I was changed
I have tramped the green forests and plains of the Pantanal.
Seen the rain moving in sheets across the round lakes and green marshes
Teeming with wildlife.
I have heard the call of birds, and the cough of the jaguar.
I have seen the traditions of the Indians, spoiled now by modern ways.
I spoke of old wisdoms in the night with the shamans, listened to their words,
And I was changed
I have looked down upon the emerald forests of the Mato Grosso.
Seen the mighty Amazon in her epic journey from the Andes to the sea,
World’s longest and most mysterious river.
I have seen where the Rio Negro joins the stream;
The waters flow side by side and do not mix.
I bathed in waters filled with fierce piranhas, anacondas, and graceful pink dolphins,
And I was changed
All this have I done. All this have I seen. All this have I learned.
But there is more to see, more to learn.
I have not traveled
The bottom of the sea nor the cold silent vacuum of space.
I have not spoken to the ones who have been to those places.
Where now shall my feet guide me? What more shall I learn?
And now, how shall I be changed?
Thank you for allowing me to share a part of Robert’s story and his poetry with you.
Blossoms in the Snow
Kindle and Kindle Unlimited
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B092SXPNW5/
Universal link
http://viewbook.at/blossomsinthesnow
Blossoms in the Snow
Kindle and Kindle Unlimited
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B092SXPNW5/
Universal link
http://viewbook.at/blossomsinthesnow
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