Spaceship Earth

A poem by Catherine Pierce.

2021

Months--Poetry
Poetry

en-US

text

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Copyright protected by Catherine Pierce. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required.

Note on transcription: This transcription may not reflect the poetic form established by the poet. Please refer to the PDF file of this poem available in the Files section for proper formatting.

Spaceship Earth

                        EPCOT

We’ve FastPassed it, that great golf ball just inside
the gates, so my son and I don’t have to wait long
to tour all of human time. Inside, Phoenicians
invent the alphabet; Romans carry news

from chariots. The Library of Alexandria
burns, but only for 15 seconds and we’re on
to the monastery, where animatronic monks
copy manuscripts. One monk has fallen

asleep on his desk. It’s so peaceful inside
the dark globe, track softly thudding
beneath us, and I thrill as we pass marvel
after marvel. O beloved papyrus! O Gutenberg!

O telegraph! O mannequin children TV-rapt
as Neil Armstrong bounds and proclaims!
The music swells and I’m weepy in the dark.
Then we’re in a garage where a man builds

a desktop computer. The narrator’s voice
says here we are. Says this like she’s announcing
a victory. Outside thousands of people crowd
the park’s entrance, waiting to open their bags

and show there’s no violence inside. Outside
it’s 88 degrees in February. In the ride’s
last moments, our car swivels backward
and we fall, slowly, slowly, down a tunnel of stars.