Seven souls would board a shuttle
Seven people, each his own,
Separate wishes, aspirations
What would happen wasn’t known
Each a hero in their own right
On a mission for mankind
Never knew, anticipated
What this journey’s end would find
Was there time for contemplation?
Did they register the fear?
Was there even time to realize
That the end was very near?
As they plunged on through the ether
Something changed the hand of fate
Like a star from heaven’s outpost
The craft began to separate
In that instant of blinding fury
Seven souls became as one
In God’s hands they all were gathered
Safe with the Father and the Son
Now the world will mourn their passing
As times before, with sight and sound
Resting in the certain knowledge
All of them were heaven bound
In Memoriam 2/1/2003:
Rick Husband
William McCool
David Brown
Laurel Clark
Kalpana Chawla
Michael Anderson
Ilan Ramon