New Pleiades, February 1, 2003
By
Clara Blair
On a bright winter morning
In the blue skies over Texas,
Seven new stars burst into view.
Not seven sisters fleeing
From the lecherous Orion
To the skies of ancient Greece.
Not seven children dancing,
The Onondaga Oot-kwa-tah,
Rising to the sky as glowing stars.
Not seven Lakota girls shining,
Rescued from an eagle by Fallen Star
And placed gently in the sky.
Nor Quillwork Girl escaping,
With her seven Cheyenne brothers,
From her ruthless earthbound suitor.
But seven homebound scientists dying,
Five men and two women,
Burnt offerings to bureaucracy.
© 2004 Clara Blair
In memory of the crew of the Columbia:
Mission Commander Rick Husband,
Pilot William McCool,
Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon (the first Israeli astronaut),
Payload Commander Michael Anderson,
Mission Specialist David Brown,
Mission Specialist Laurel Clark
and
Payload Specialist Kalpana Chawla.
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