"Missing Person's Report"

Look, in the sky!
What's that? Did you see?
Not a bird, or a plane,
but a priest, flying free!

Why he seemed quite at ease,
not at all wobbly kneed.
With the birds and the breeze,
T'was a game I believed.

He rode in a chair,
(Saw him grin, saw him wave)
raised on helium air.
(Never seen a soul quite so brave.)

In the sun he did dance,
wth the children he'd laugh.
Not a man was but entranced
with this great gaseous gaff.

Oh, we clapped and we played,
and he smiled and bowed.
Gave a cheer, hip-hurray!
Then he shouted aloud...

But alas, none could hear what he said.

Now in a white sandy daze
with unaverted gaze
watched the merry young priest,
who was sixty at least,

With a gust of the air,
and balloons bright and gay.
He seemed in rather good cheer
as he drifted all day...

and toasted with fine Belgian beer!

To his course, who can say?
He did seem quite steady.
T'was a fine windy day,
he must have been ready.

As a bad bit of wind
blew out of the West.
Oh poor Father, a sin!
Sir, you must know the rest.

He got swept out to sea,
on tides of the air.
And we were the last to see,
The priest in the bright, balloon chair.