systems failure 
Category: Writing and Poetry 


all systems are go
we have lift off Houston, we have lift off
tranquility base, the eagle has landed
one small step for man
one giant leap for mankind

systems are designed
failsafes are assigned
redundancies put in place
to preserve the human race

systems break down
as reality comes around
a pressure leak here
a loose piece of foam there

a small pump to a system fails
takes the wind out of our sails
sets the project back
future funding we will lack

have to get it right
this one chance in the dead of night
risk of human lifes in flight
gives the public a terrible fright

but the engineers know
the risk is minimized reports will show
that there is one more backup pump in place
no more breaches left to trace

Houston, "t" minus "x" and counting
the beautiful systems are ready to fly
astronauts are ready to try
to reach escape velocity
hopefully suffering no atrocities

10, 9. 8. 7. 6. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
the liquid hydrogen and oxygen acetylene mixture explodes
ignited by the system's electrodes
up into space the rocket goes
lift off, we have lift off

the arc of the space ship takes it's flight
streaming trails of smoke and light
racing through the sky at night
the heliosphere, the stratosphere
we just left the atmosphere

the capsule's dark and lonely up here
but logic tells us there's nothing to fear
racing round this blue sphere in orbit
we rendezvous with the space station
wrenches turning special tools

electronic fans whiring
the cabin is stirring
lights are blinking
astronauts are thinking

making preperations
for upgrades to the space station
systems are go no catastrophic failures
thank the lord my god and saviour
run a few more experiments
eat a few refreshments

time to walk in space
take a look around this place
I spot no micro fractures
heat shield is ready to go
we are ready as far as I know

time for re-entry
something's wrong alarm the sentry
but there are no failsafes at this speed
we're going to die for human greed
there was really no compelling need

heat plumes flare up it's lovely
seconds left to live
tell my wife I love her very much
my kids too
Houston, this is the captain
signing out