I Could Have Gone On Flying Through

Looking At The Earth From Afar You Realize It Is Too Small For Conflict And Just Big Enough For Co-operation.

I See Earth! It Is So Beautiful.

I Saw For The First Time The Earth's Shape. I Could Easily See The Shores Of Continents, Islands, Great Rivers, Folds Of The Terrain, Large Bodies Of Water. The Horizon Is Dark Blue, Smoothly Turning To Black. . . The Feelings Which Filled Me I Can Express With One Word-joy.

When They Saw Me In My Space Suit And The Parachute Dragging Alongside As I Walked, They Started To Back Away In Fear. I Told Them, Don’t Be Afraid, I Am A Soviet Like You, Who Has Descended From Space And I Must Find A Telephone To Call Moscow!

If All Those People Are Getting Wet To Welcome Me, Surely The Least I Can Do Is Get Wet Too!