Elegy For a Man-Body

 —The Safire Memo, “In Event of Moon Disaster” from July 18, 1969.

     Fate ordained 
the man who went to the man to explore in peace will stay 
to rest.

    The brave man, arms strong, knows there is no hope 
for their recovery. But also know there is hope 
for man—kind in their sacrifice.

     The two: man lying down lives in man; 
a kind’s most noble search.

     They will be mourned—be mourned—be 
their families; be mourned—their nation; mourned by 
the people of the world; they will be mourned—because 
a mother, an Earth dared send two of her sons to be known.

     In exploration [explosion], 
stirred people of the world feel as one the sacrifice, bind—
bind—bind more tightly 
than the brothers of a man.

     In ancient man, look at stars and sew heroes 
in the constellations. 
In modern times, we do much the same, 
heroes as epics of blood.

     Follow, and surely—follow and find the way home. 
Man, search 
be denied. Be these, 
man were the first and will remain.

     For every man be the being who looks up at the moon 
in the night. Come to me—come 
to me—come to me—come 
to your will. Know 
there is some corner of another world 
that is forever mankind.