TO THE MOON AND BACK (A poem about an astronaut's journey to the moon)

Here's a poem I wrote on my way to SBMJCE. For the VTU fest. Although I didn't compete in the event i got to write a poem I hold very dear to my heart..

TO THE MOON AND BACK

For years and years, we have gazed at the moon,
Wondered about existence of intelligent life,
The heavenly body smiling at us, ‘Oh we can figure it out soon’,
We say, but so we know the struggle and the tiring strife?

Nonetheless, we swallow our doubts and questions,
About how the mighty, glowing wonder came into being,
We are fired with an array of plans and suggestions
As to how the journey to the moon can come up and firing.

I, as an astronaut, in preparation for the ultimate trip,
To the moon and back, I face my challenge,
Of that single step my idol took and made my heartbeat skip,
When the sands of the moon had witnessed the sudden change.

I know there are a hundred eyes filled with hope,
As I wave my loved ones a goodbye,
I tell myself ‘There are always two ends to a rope’,
And I prepare my programmed mind to an extreme low and a happy high.

But that was all in the past, here I am,
Struggling in the present, anticipating the future,
Meanwhile, I can hear the engines roar and the mechanics scram,
For the tiny final touches to the golden foil guarding the fire.

There are the million rows of blinding lights,
They seem to be blinking at me, mocking me,
‘Are you out of your mind, Will YOU reach the heights?
Are you out of your barking mind?’ and I think ‘Well, that’s me’.

I had been dreaming of the D-Day ever since I,
Looked up at that amazingly round, yet scarred
Orb of wonder, looming upon me, from the sky,
Amidst the dark canvas of night, so skillfully starred.

The day, rather night has arrived, out of the blue
And yet I feel I was destined to fly to space.
Space- So blank, void yet, for me, its the enchanting hue
That splashed my young ideas with a mature grace.

Now, I can see my house, The Earth, as only a sphere,
How the swirling humid winds seem to have halted,
Like a picture perfect poster, I click a mental picture,
I know this moment will last forever, before it even started.

At last, the deciding hour has approached,
When my team and my fate will be decided,
We land on the Moon, occupy a space already encroached,
We know we are in history already, in those thick pages we’ve resided.

The blackness of the atmosphere devoid of air engulfs me,
As I plant my country’s flag, I can hear,
The soft rhythm of the anthem of my country,
I smell the sweet scent of victory and I know, THE FUTURE IS HERE.


~Shwetha Gopalan
24- 10- 2008