Hearing The Call

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Hearing The Call
copyright © 2003 by H. Paul Shuch, Ph.D.

Forty five years ago...
My God, has it been that long?
In the months shortly following
The launch of Sputnik I,
At the very dawn of the Space Age.
My life's work was defined for me --
By others.

"You are skilled in math and science,"
My guidance counselor told me.
"Go and become an engineer.
We can never have enough engineers
To catch up with the Commies."

And so, along with a hundred thousand brothers,
I heard the call
Cracked the books
Learned and taught the secrets
And traveled vicariously
To the Moon and beyond.

And created today's
Technology glut,
Our talents, in due course, becoming
Obsolete, irrelevant.
And, by the way,
What's a Commie?

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