Rising from Earth by Al Worden

Poem originally composed by Worden, an Apollo 15 astronaut, in the weeks following the successful completion of his crew’s mission to the moon in 1971. The work remained unpublished until later released along with the author’s memoirs, “Falling to Earth,” in 2011.

A vibration, a roar
Motion
Shaking, rattling we lift
Straight up

We climb on plumes of thunder
Into a rising sun
And away from reality

Goodbye my friends
You are gone
The whole world has gone
On a trip

But this must be finished
Faster, faster, can’t turn back
Insignificant, I am insignificant

Lights flash, panel moves
Floating in nothingness
Then softly, softly,
The movement begins again
Push up the switch
And suddenly light everywhere

Earth is floating aimlessly, serenely
Peopled, I know, by intelligent life
Man is ever driven on
Vision greater than deed

Floating so far
Extending the realm of man
Born again in light of day
And everything is suddenly right.