An Archeological Inventory at
Tranquility Base
The Lunar module stage on which
the LEM made it's decent,
solar wind collector, Seismic wave
Experiment,
A retroflector, mobile life support,
two pairs of boots,
A video subsystem, cable, lenses
for tv
tripod, mesa bracket, cameras,
spent film magazines
scales, a hammer, trench tools,
tongs, steel cover, and two scoops
these are just a few things that
we left upon the moon,
Bags and kits, waist tethers,
lifelines, various conveyors
the Handle of the backup Lunar
Sampling Container
box seal, cannisters, a pair of
lunar overshoes
A capsule and an eight-foot rod
made of aluminum,
storage space compartment from the
left side of the LEM
two remote controllers, two antennas,
and some tube,
these are just a few things that
we left upon the moon,
A blanket, armrests, pallets,
parts, discarded to save weight,
a Gnomon, that's a sundial point
that doesn't have its base,
two empty food bags, plus 4 days
of surplus unconsumed,
Packing mesh, containers built to
capture condensate,
a Filter for bacteria, collectors
meant for waste,
bags of human fluids, emesis, and
trash and poo,
these are just a few things that
we left upon the moon,
Pins and plastic cover, from the
flag of the U.S,
the flag itself, which sadly
toppled as the module left,
a mission patch to honor the
Apollo I's lost crew,
A disc of goodwill messages
composed of silicon
two medals that were left to honor
two dead cosmonauts,
A mission plaque and Olive Branch
of gold for all to view
that spoke of peace for all
mankind when left upon the moon,
A foot print, that still leads the
way to stride our next advance,
And beckons generations hence to
gamble skill and chance
For dignity and bravery and honor,
strength and truth,
these are also things which we
have left upon the moon,
There still, they lie within our
reach, and hearken us to choose
Recovery of those things That we
have left upon the moon.
(From 'Tranquility Base', a poetry reading and art show from 2019, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing).
