And this last poem that I'm going to send you off with
is called SciFi-ku, which I decided
to take the form of the haiku, its focus
on nature, its 5-7-5 structure.
And I assure you they are all completely accurate.
SciFi-ku.
"Eve of chilled stars.
The night dark blue.
Gravity holds my place, twirling.
The rings of Saturn shimmer, it is said, like white sand
and shells, the shore.
Venus, Jupiter dance like forlorn lovers,
each bright, burning, pining.
Asteroids are hurtling in their field.
Unlucky leftovers, poor rocks.
Telescopic eyes and such enormity.
So little light squeaks through.
Robots venture where we can't.
Do servos whir where there is no sound?
Earthrise: now we see how we are seen: enviable, blue world.
So small.
When stars explode, they color clouds that look like crabs,
even if they don't.
Starship Enterprise, its continuing mission
so boldly going.
Beam me up, Scotty.
Damn it, Jim, I'm a doctor.
Live long and prosper.
Some neutron stars pulse accurately as atomic clocks--
a heartbeat.
Gauzy ribbon, our own galaxy, spilled milk sky--
we are but an arm.
We should be a space faring people,
if only to leave and come back."
Thank you, Tucson.
Thank you Poetry Center.
Thank you, Laurie Ann.
[APPLAUSE]
It has been my distinct pleasure.
[APPLAUSE]