I remember a warm July night.
Awaiting the enemy in dim moonlight.
Knowing he certainly would appear,
Dealing with my personal fear

And using a technological means
Of amplifying light from moonbeams.
Aided by light from the stars and moon,
The landscape appeared as bright as noon.

I remember that tropical night.
The soldier stole clearly into my sight.
I steadied my weapon and took a bead,
But thought a moment about this deed.

It was only a few hours before
Apollo 11 had done far more
Than leap forward for all mankind,
Now it put me in a bit of a bind.

We went to the moon on a peaceful quest,
An achievement of mankind at its best.
We made a point of getting there first,
But there I was - mankind at its worst,

Ending the life of a man too soon -
Using light, now sanctified, from the moon.
I couldn't know what part he might play,
But he passed, unharmed, past me that day.

Copyright 1983 Lou Rose All Rights Reserved.