Luna Iactus

By Andrew M F Grafton

This epic poem narrates the heroic and awe-inspiring journeys of NASA's Apollo missions, focusing on the remarkable feats of human courage, scientific discovery, and technological prowess. Each section of the poem is dedicated to a specific Apollo mission, encapsulating the unique challenges, triumphs, and historical significance of each voyage. The chorus elements, woven throughout the poem, serve to remind readers of the grand scale and lasting impact of these missions, not only on space exploration but on international relations and human aspirations.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Andrew M F Grafton
• Release date: Nov 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223234135

Book preview

Luna Iactus

By: Andrew M F Grafton

Verse so grand, in iambic tread,

With six feet beat in every line,

Of ancient rules, the tales are said,

Of heroes bold, of gods divine.

With words of power, words that keep,

The rhythm steady, and profound,

Of deeds and feats, the bards do sing,

In echoes that the ages resound.

Thus I recite, in verse so fine,

With strength and grace, of epic tales,

And bring to life, the ancient rhyme,

That through the ages, always prevails.

I.

Eight years beyond the flight Gagarin took,

Which Shepard sought to overcome and look,

Above horizon where the future lies.

Forsaking over saturated skies.

The challenge given from above

The president did speak with love.

No man can grasp how far and fast we’ve come,

Condense the span of what we have not done.

Furthering our way towards the stars.

Reaching outwards; taking what is ours.

Beyond the flight of Yuri Gagarin,

With Alan Shepard's quest to soar again,

Above the Earth, where future bright does shine,

Leaving behind the realm once thought divine.

A challenge issued from the highest place,

With love and hope, from the president's grace.

We look upon the years, with wonder in our eyes,

And marvel at the things we've realized.

Five thousand years of history untold,

Compressed into half a century's fold.

Of times that passed, so long ago,

When man first learned to reap and sow.

Just ten short years, beneath this sky so fair,

With structures built of stone, beyond compare.

The written word, a cart with wheels, and more,

With Christian faith, hammering the door.

The steam engine, a joyous call to cheer,

And printing press, of yesteryear.

Newton, who gave us gravity's might,

And telephones and electric light,

Propelling us to reach the stars above,

With knowledge, strength, and courage, we'll take what's ours.

Such pace cannot help but create new ills.

Conquered by those forward moving wills,

This country founded on forging ahead,

All those brave souls that risked their home and stead.

The capsule history above,

without the knowledge and the love,

of science and progress cannot deter,

and further exploration will not blur

Space exploration will go on forward,

all countries that can fathom it aboard.

Space Conquest, Brave New Quest:

The nation, born of pioneers,

With restless will and spirit fierce,

Now seeks to conquer worlds above,

With knowledge, hope, and boundless love.

The capsule history, though vast,

Cannot compare to what's to pass,

With progress, daring, and great skill,

We'll venture forth, against all ill.

So let us board the epic ship,

And sail to where the future's rip,

With bravery, vision, and steadfast heart,

We'll conquer space, our noble part.

For all the journeys, this doth reign,

A quest that shall forever remain,

In memories of our forebearers,

Who rode the waves and braved the piers.

The world now gazes up with awe,

In hopes that from our quest we'll draw,

New knowledge and undreamt of power,

As we lead the world in this hour.

Of all adventures this is surely great,

Greater than all the journeys way of late.

Those who came before us rode the waves,

Keeping strong the will of their own braves,

The eyes of all now look to space in hope

unprecedented in its scale and scope.

If we yearn to lead the world

we must fly our flag unfurled.

New knowledge there is to be won.

No conflict yet by a destructive gun.

For this we shift our efforts into gear,

Our aspirations in as such are clear:

"O'er strife and feud, above the earth below,

In space, there's none that prejudice does show.

Its dangers, hostile to all mankind,

Yet still its conquest does our spirit bind.

A chance for peaceful cooperation waits,

A chance that may not come again in fates."

"Some ask why choose the moon? Why choose this as our goal?

Why climb the mountains, cross the oceans´ roil?

Why, 35 years ago, fly the ocean's breadth?

Why do Rice and Texas clash despite their strength?"

"The moon, we choose, in this decade to tread,

And other things, not easy, but ahead.

The goal will test the best of all our might,

The challenge, one we accept with all our sight.

We won't postpone, we will this task fulfill,

And win, with courage, all our future's thrill."

"Long time ago, great Mallory did say,

Before his death, he'd climb Mount Everest one day.

Because it's there, he answered with a grin.

And space is there, new wonders to begin.

Moon, planets, hopes of knowledge and of peace,

Without God's great blessing, may our grand journey cease.

II.

If history stands firm behind the men,

The brave who venture forth into the den

Of lions both of vacuum and of rock

And risk imposed by timing and the clock,

Perhaps the day will come when we shall see

Mankind abide in light tranquility

Upon the surface of our sacred moon

Representing mankind's greatest boon.

The exploration spirit will live on.

Like the pilgrims that will land upon

The surface where new