i was twelve on that July day,
the human race's most amazing
technological achievement.
i watched in grainy black-&-white
that was appropriately beautiful
for an actual miracle.

then Armstrong botched
his big line! how appropriately human.

of the two big events of 1969,
the one built on dreams
of the infinitely possible
has been set aside for lack of funding.
we give endlessly,
money and blood,
to the other,
the pursuit of wars
like the one that killed
thousands that same year in Vietnam.

we are a people of immense skills
and tiny hearts.
we do not belong on the path
to the stars.

July 20, 2009