"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." ~Neil Armstrong
First moon landing, 1969
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| Astronaut Neil Armstrong dies at age 82. Neil Armstrong was a quiet, self-described "nerdy" engineer who became a global hero when as a steely-nerved U.S. pilot he made "one giant leap for mankind" with the first step on the moon. Read more. . . |
Let's pause in a moment of silence for this great hero. . .
A Walk on the Moon
An event once only visualized in an episode of Star Trek
came to fruition when man stepped onto the surface of Earth’s moon.
One question still remains: How far is it possible to go?
Man on the moon?
Just myth, they say
'Til two in fact
Made it one day
“The Eagle has landed”
Rang loud and clear
As the astronauts said
“We’re safely here.”
Words of a hero
In history we’ll find
“One small step for man,
One giant leap for mankind”
Seeing Earth in the heavens
As no one had seen before
Led the men to venture out
Eager to seek and explore
What was it honestly like
On that monumental day?
Was it hot like the desert?
What role did gravity play?
Total absence of weather
Both cloudless and windless
Left so many conditions
Nothing short of mindless
Wildly shifting temperatures
Below Arctic cold in the shade
Rose to blistering in the sun
Often stagnating the crusade
Lack of atmosphere
Limited gravitational pull
Steps by leaps and bounds
Sprung upward noticeably in full
Weighing much less on the moon
Apollo astronauts had fun
Picture how far you could jump
If gravity’s force were undone!
A Walk on the Moon
An event once only visualized in an episode of Star Trek
came to fruition when man stepped onto the surface of Earth’s moon.
One question still remains: How far is it possible to go?
Man on the moon?
Just myth, they say
'Til two in fact
Made it one day
“The Eagle has landed”
Rang loud and clear
As the astronauts said
“We’re safely here.”
Words of a hero
In history we’ll find
“One small step for man,
One giant leap for mankind”
Seeing Earth in the heavens
As no one had seen before
Led the men to venture out
Eager to seek and explore
What was it honestly like
On that monumental day?
Was it hot like the desert?
What role did gravity play?
Total absence of weather
Both cloudless and windless
Left so many conditions
Nothing short of mindless
Wildly shifting temperatures
Below Arctic cold in the shade
Rose to blistering in the sun
Often stagnating the crusade
Lack of atmosphere
Limited gravitational pull
Steps by leaps and bounds
Sprung upward noticeably in full
Weighing much less on the moon
Apollo astronauts had fun
Picture how far you could jump
If gravity’s force were undone!
© 2012
Sharla Lee Shults
Sharla Lee Shults
I am sure that Neil Armstrong will feel you have added somrthing to his leap
ReplyDeleteTwo years ago, I wrote a chapbook in consultation with my mom that evolved into the collection "Generations." The poem that represents our shared experience, "9/34: Mom on the Moon," described my mom's insistence that a synagogue meeting end on time: "Ladies and gentlemen//I must witness history// with my children."
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post in honor of a true American hero.
ReplyDeleteI included his biography in my most recent book and he was (and is) one of my all-time heroes!
ReplyDeleteThank you! This is a beautiful poem for one of our bravest space scientist.
ReplyDeleteSharla, what a beautiful tribute to a wonderful hero and a really nice man. I remember watching it all on TV--a momentous occasion. This lovely poem should be sent to his family. You did a wonderful job-thanks for the memories.
ReplyDeleteMicki
I agree with Micki, Sharla. The poem should be sent to Neil Armstrong's family. It is a beautiful tribute to one of the world's finest.
ReplyDeleteWonderful tribute to a great man, a great American Man!
ReplyDeleteThank you for honoring him, Sharla!
ReplyDeleteOne of the few heroes who didn't turn out to have feet of clay.
ReplyDelete