Untethered
To boldly go . . .
It was a phrase I'd said
Every night as a child
With my head tilted upward
Toward the distant stars
But I find myself repeating it now
With amazement
And new appreciation
As I watch the flashing lights
On the display board
Slowly change from red to green
I imagine I can hear the hiss of escaping air
As the great hatch opens
Feel its rush upon my skin
Despite both readings and common sense which say
The enviro-suit's protective seal is still in place
And the sounds are just extraneous noise
From the oxygen pumps strapped to my back
Then as the view unfolds
The adrenaline hits
And I feel myself trembling
With that heady mix of excitement and fear
That precedes a journey into the unknown
A whole new universe lies
Outside that door
Beckoning me
Challenging me to seize the dream
And boldly go . . .
I have come so far
But I must grow
So gently, urgently
I push myself through the portal, and
With no tether left to hold me back
Take my first small step
Outside the cradle
The universe expands before me
Life can never be the same