the little planets around their heads

the funny thing about space exploration
(particularly that governmentally-funded, i suppose)
is that you'll never get anywhere far by standing on your toes

the first step, still, is to stretch up, up, up
(with lips slightly parted and expectation of awe)
getting ready to tell everyone downstairs what you saw

earthlings cannot contrive to find the world revolving around them
(it's been centuries since then, and my, how we've learned)
instead merely gazing about at what surrounds them, perhaps earned

some of the sights will talk back, when enamoured
(here, oh here, is where a brave soul boldly goes)
so jim gazes at spock down the telescope of his nose

! contact