I reckon I got it figured out

the big picture, how we got here

why we're different from those early critters

who stood and couldn't figure diddly squat

you know - that blink of time

when something big came to town

from out there....

 

     looking up I followed his gaze

 

 Then I figured how easily you can lose your way

your mind back to being a child again

all that history counting for nothing

in your own head.

 

    Walter, the ex NASA man took a long draught

    of his bud, shifted in the rocker,

    long moonlight etching his beard

    just right for declarations.

 

    Care to elaborate on that?

    was my reply on that verandah

    launch pad to velvet cold stars.

 

I know it's been thought of before

but what if something landed here

took advantage of one of those female critters

mixed their genes just for the hell of it,

how about that,

the rest would be history wouldn't it?

 

Then naturally enough their plans could'a gone astray

with disease an 'all, contamination and the like.

I figured it out I reckon,

and all those bible stories

the descending and the ascending and sichlike

all part of that tick tock of distant memory.

 

    I guess you could be about right

    was my reply.

 

Truth is, I think I may have lost the edge of late

confusion, can't remember too much

so I thought i'd let you know just in case

I might go for a walk out there an'

never come back from the bewilderness.

 

    We parted then,  and I watched his bulk

    as he went inside to his simple room

    where a picture of him at NASA control

    said more than I could about

    the leaking out of memory

    with all those fine fellows smiling right out,

    those colleagues he soon might

    never have known.