Columbia Fell

seven astronauts brave and true
rode the lightning and Columbia flew
a bump and a bang from tank debris
skinn't the left wing, but let her fly free

achieving their orbit, missions were done
the experiments, measurements and research too
while racing along, looking down at the world
and living their dream of being in space

at 8:08 on Feb 01 Houston control said
you're go for a burn, and so homeward they came
but the wing had been damaged, the heat too severe
as well as the mach 18 wind shear

then over Texas a star appeared
it boomed and it burst and rained down
in the streets. Columbia was lost with all hands
Rest in Peace.

Anderson, Brown, Chawla and Clark
Husband, McCool and Ramon, these names will live on
for they watch us all now, forever in the heavens
where astronauts go when they're finished living the dream



©2003 These works are copyrighted by the author and all rights are reserved. Theft will be punished by having your nipples rubbed with a cheese grater. Unless of course you like that sort of thing, in which case you'll be made to listen to telemarketers and televangelists until you give them all your money.
- posted by Roadkill Poet @ 7:53 PM