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And this last poem that I'm
going to send you off with

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is called SciFi-ku,
which I decided

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to take the form of
the haiku, its focus

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on nature, its 5-7-5 structure.

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And I assure you they are
all completely accurate.

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SciFi-ku.

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"Eve of chilled stars.

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The night dark blue.

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Gravity holds my
place, twirling.

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The rings of Saturn shimmer,
it is said, like white sand

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and shells, the shore.

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Venus, Jupiter dance
like forlorn lovers,

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each bright, burning, pining.

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Asteroids are hurtling
in their field.

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Unlucky leftovers, poor rocks.

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Telescopic eyes
and such enormity.

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So little light squeaks through.

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Robots venture where we can't.

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Do servos whir where
there is no sound?

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Earthrise: now we see how we
are seen: enviable, blue world.

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So small.

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When stars explode, they color
clouds that look like crabs,

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even if they don't.

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Starship Enterprise,
its continuing mission

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so boldly going.

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Beam me up, Scotty.

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Damn it, Jim, I'm a doctor.

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Live long and prosper.

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Some neutron stars pulse
accurately as atomic clocks--

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a heartbeat.

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Gauzy ribbon, our own
galaxy, spilled milk sky--

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we are but an arm.

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We should be a
space faring people,

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if only to leave and come back."

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Thank you, Tucson.

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Thank you Poetry Center.

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Thank you, Laurie Ann.

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[APPLAUSE]

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It has been my
distinct pleasure.

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[APPLAUSE]

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