in the living dreams of a handful of children
who grew up watching Kirk and Picard
we live out the promise of our fathers
the crazy ravings of the writers from the '50's
and build ships that touch the stars
and see the universe for the cold and wonderous vastness it is
in the legends of peoples ancient and long dead
we hear the parables of how dangerous it is
to fly too close to the all mighty sun
to reach beyond our infinitely human grasp
still we build ships that explore the stars
and see the universe for the sometimes unfeeling vastness it is
in memoriam of the Columbia & Challenger space shuttle crews,
and all those who have ever died trying to explore our world and beyond