National Poetry Writing Month 2026, day 14: Strides

The capsule enters the atmosphere

Like the tip of a hot microtome-sharp hypodermic

Inoculating the inhabitants of Earth

Against ancient, false notions; the heat shield flares

And takes the frictive, searing air

That the four star voyagers

Be not meted Icarus’s fate.

It is poetry in technology, seasoned with courage,

Marrying competence with competence.

Their splashdown completes a decelation

From Mach 20 to a peewee 20 miles per hour.

The gorgeous parachutes become drenched,

Withered flower petals.

The unscathed-survivor smiles

And the society-reentry strides

Are the best poetry of all.