stein@dolqci.UUCP (Mike Stein) (01/28/88)
This may be one of the more unusual cross-postings ever done - but
I think that on this day and in these places it is appropriate. It is a
song, but I like to think it stands on its own as a poem.
The Final Lesson
Words and music copyright 1986 by Michael Stein
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My son, I've got to tell you that
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Your mother isn't coming home again.
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She lifted off for outer space
C6 e
With another woman and five men.
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A teacher into space, they said,
C6 B7 flat 9
To teach young children all across the land.
C G
And yes, she's taught us something, son,
f#dim#6 B7 e
But not a lesson anyone had planned.
2) The Challenger set off into
The morning of a January day.
A minute into launch, and all
The instruments reported "A-OK".
And all your classmates watched in awe
As on its way your mother's mission sped.
When suddenly, at Launch Control
On every panel all the lights went red.
3) At first the crowd believed the flash
Was separation; everybody cheered.
Without a 'scope, they could not see
The funny way the booster rockets veered.
But then they heard the sirens wail;
Their hearts grew cold, and all the cheering died.
And then the grim announcement came:
"The craft's exploded." Everybody cried.
4) As minutes passed without a word,
A nation prayed that somehow they'd survived.
But half a million pounds of fuel
Burnt in one second won't leave much alive.
They say that for an hour or more
The pieces rained across the silent sea.
And now a nation searches for
Some answers in an ocean of debris.
5) The engineers, they want to know
The reason that your mother's ship was lost.
The businessmen are asking
How much this little incident will cost.
And those who sent them search their hearts:
"Dear God, could this brave crew have died for naught?"
They won't, as long as we can learn
The final lesson that your mother taught.
6) Some people live entire lives
As if a moment after birth, they died.
They never lose, they never win,
Because in truth they never even tried.
Your mother gave her life to teach
What only an example can explain.
Your mother's final lesson, son: x| E arpeg.
Reach for the stars, or else you live in vain.
29th January 1986
- Mike Stein
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