Photo Haiku #10

Space: An Odyssey in Haiku

A lifetime training
For the mission that awaits
NASA’s finest men

Suited and prepared
They climb the shuttles ladder
And get set for launch

Commencing countdown
Engines running, ten, nine, eight
Seven, six, five, four…

Three, two, one, lift-off
Off the ground the rocket flies
Heading for the moon

Limited O2
Masks are worn to enable
The pilots to breath

Floating weightlessly
Around the shuttles cockpit
Like kites in the wind

Changing atmosphere
So different to training
They slowly adjust

The Earth disappears
In the distance behind them
As the moon looms large

A bumpy landing
Turbulence experienced
But no one was hurt

The Luna surface
Looks so cold through the window
No life to be seen

Full of excitement
The explorers climb down
The shuttles ladder

Jumping high and far
Utilising gravity
Or the moons lack of

Taking rock samples
And placing in air tight jars
For further study

Planting old glory
Firmly on the moons surface
To show they were there

Commencing radio
“Luna 1 calling Huston,
It’s barren up here”

Tearily kissing
The ground through their helmets
Preparing to leave

Once again climbing
The rockets clanging ladder
This time to go home

Three, two, one, lift off
Off the moon the rocket flies
Heading back to Earth

No words are spoken
Silently contemplating
Their Luna feelings

Bright red light flashes
On the electronic screen
“Incoming message”

“Congratulations
On a successful mission
Re-entry awaits”

Flames engulf the ship
As it violently enters
The Earths atmosphere

Struggling for control
The captain lifts up the nose
Just in time to land

Parachutes open
Slowing the rockets decent
Into the ocean

With a mighty splash
And an aquatic landing
The hero’s survive

Taken to safety
The astronauts are rescued
By helicopter

Hero’s, astronauts,
Adventurers, explorers,
Luna conquerors

On Earth their now loved
Their new found celebrity
Opens many doors

Fame friends and riches
Can buy anything but the
Moon beneath their feet

They’ve achieved their dreams
They’ve left the Earth, flown in space
And walked on the moon

What’s left to achieve
When you’ve sampled outer space
But bask in glory?

With fond memories
They look at the moon they walked
Two long years ago

Video Haiku #2

The water rises,

No way to cross the river

without getting wet.