I Work For Nasa

Astronaut is the Latin translation of “star sailor”. 

I think that’s very poetic.

I am not an astronaut but

I work for NASA.

My eyes follow blips across

the black void of a black box

and from my mouth into my headset

drip monosyllabic directives.

Still, I appreciate moments of poetry just like any other man. 

Yes, I work for NASA

 here in this place we call the Lone Star State.  

Not so long ago there was a day.

not unlike this day

on a planet no bigger

in this ever-expanding universe

than the gravy stain on my work shirt.

And on this day there was a moment.

I have read that by Rabbinical reckoning

a moment is 43 milliseconds.

This moment may have been more.

But I made a note of this moment in my log,

because there was a big smile slapped on your face

and your teeth were shining with spit

and there were something like stars in your eyes.

Waterloo, January 15, 2009