Rhysling

The "blind singer of the spaceways" from various works of science fiction writer Robert L. Heinlein. He is first only mentioned in passing, in "Universe" (Astounding Science Fiction, May 1941). He's a favorite of two-headed mutant Joe-Jim:

They were both inordinately fond of poetry; they could recite page after page of Kipling, and were nearly as fond of Rhysling, “the blind singer of the spaceways.”

Later, Rhysling is the main character in the short story "The Green Hills of Earth" (The Saturday Evening Post, February 8, 1947). It tells the tragic, poetic tale of the elderly, blind, wandering, bard-like character attempting to get home to Earth before he dies. There's a mishap on the ship, and Rhysling fixes it and saves the ship, but has been exposed to too much deadly radiation. Knowing he is shortly to die, he sings his newly composed song, "The Green Hills of Earth" over the radio, cementing his place in Earth literature.

Sometimes known as "Noisy" Rhysling, he is compared to Kipling, with whom he shares the last four letters of his name.