Cygnus X-1 Book I: The Voyage

In the constellation of Cygnus

There lurks a mysterious, invisible force

The Black Hole of Cygnus X-1

Six Stars of the Northern Cross

In mourning for their sister's loss

In a final flash of glory

Nevermore to grace the night

Invisible to telescopic eye

Infinity, the star that would not die

All who dare to cross her course

Are swallowed by a fearsome force

Through the void to be destroyed

Or is there something more?

Atomized at the core

Or through the Astral Door

To soar

I set a course just east of Lyra

And northwest of Pegasus

Flew into the light of Deneb

Sailed across the Milky Way

On my ship, the "Rocinante"

Wheeling through the galaxies

Headed for the heart of Cygnus

Headlong into mystery

The X-ray is her siren song, my ship cannot resist her long

Nearer to my deadly goal until the Black Hole

Gains control

Spinning, whirling, still descending

Like a spiral sea, unending

Sound and fury drowns my heart

Every nerve is torn apart