Reaching Out
Frank Coffman
The first steps–through faltering progress–reached the moon.
And then we dreamt out on the goal of Mars.
Indeed, we got there–in Earth-years fairly soon–
Then outer planets, their moons, next beckoning stars.
Propulsion was the key: how that much speed
Could be attained proved a quandary deep.
But also was the factor of human need;
How long could a person live in suspended sleep?
Light-billowed sails and work with ion streams
Eventually brought us to this day.
And now–they launch! Will they fulfill our dreams?
Reach that perfect exo-world so far away?
Down here none now alive will know? They won’t return.
But Humankind’s great questing soul will ever burn.
