in this age

the last launch of a space shuttle took place 8 July 2011

in this age of wires and robots
when science has broken the old stories
into equations and graphs
each part of a star labeled and reduced
into component fact
         the bright tail of a comet
         the shining face of the moon
         the wobbling path of an asteroid falling
                   forever
no one considers the old gods anymore
instead
we hold our breath
while a white ship glides
         ascending on a wave of fire
         cutting cleanly through the atmosphere
                   on her descent
all orchestrated
by dreamers who hold her steady
and steer her true
in this age, heroes
         who wear helmets and oxygen tanks
         and walk through space
                   alone
must stand on the shoulders
of engineers and programmers
         people whose first language is computer
         and have a hard time translating into
                   mere human
this is the age of power
         when a little child’s plaything
         harnesses the lightning
         and chaos defines the order
                   of the universe
new myths are being told
to explain . . .
                             the stars

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