[update: This page was composed in 2019, when privatization agenda and looming budget cuts put the future of NASA in some doubt. Since then, important missions for NASA such as Jwst, Europa, anticipated lunar and Mars explorations, seem to have secured a continuing niche for the Agency. However, the position of staff poet remains absent from their considerable catalog of occupational titles. We regard the skill sets of poets essential skill sets for any major scientific or social project. To that end, we encourage the correction of that omission. - rs]
"Mission Accomplished": Poets at NASA. Sign the Change.org petition to put poets on NASA staff.
NEW! "Mission #2 Accomplished": Starship DARPA. Read about it, sign the Change.org petition.
If you work for NASA, we'd be interested in hearing from you.
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to the mission status board:
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MISSION LAUNCH PAD
click this button to send NASA a message to hire staff poets.
Mission Accomplished
Hope is the thing that kicks in when worry isn't enough
and every direction is met with stalls, blocks and defeat,
where the way up is not up. When it is you can't get to your feet.
That's hope, rough resignation disguised as "I'd rather,"
promises wearing gowns of maybes, tomorrows never repeat,
and "why bothers?" whenever enough really isn't "Enough!"
Change ain't hope. Has no use for it. If it did, it can't wait that long.
Change is a nag that says " Nothing has happened and probably won't,
the endless revisions of what ought to be with nothing to help it along.
"Not my bag?" fine and dandy, on your way to nowhere at all,
where 'what-ifs' eat yin-yang like candy, the I Ching is too indecisive.
Rocket science isn't required to know what needs to be changed,
there's war and hunger-a list of inequities far too long;
the looting of those who had barely enough to begin with,
and those who have nothing at all- serious problems
cry out to be solved. So why pick on one that seems
last on the list? What's so wrong about NASA I couldn't resist?
I asked them just this, "Does NASA have any poets on staff?"
to document things otherwise left unsaid." And so they should
my query surmised, to render the beauty and wonder of all,
as no one else could. What I got in reply was surprise:
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"Thank you for writing to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
To learn about working for NASA, please visit the NASA Jobs page <link here>.
The NASA Occupations page <link> lists the types of jobs at NASA <frustration>
and has links to the qualifications for the jobs." (in which 'poet' doesn't appear)
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Should I worry or hope for the faint light of change,
the clearing of smoke in the air? It's not like the hungry,
the war-torn, the homeless. No nuclear plants gone awry.
Does it matter if something at NASA is rhymed? And besides,
They do wonders on little enough, and there's bigger fish to be fried.
Still, it was the place where change once hung out,
where hope gladly stepped to one side. "Do it!"
took over in launch after launch. Within and without,
a change in the world that no one could hide
(for years NASA tried; Stewart Brand made 'em show it),
where "Mission Accomplished" meant what it meant,
and much more than a flag waved with pride.
I'm not looking for work, didn't ask for a job,
as for hope, it's not needed where change is in store.
But is it, when such simple questions are bobbled
and the challenge thrown into the mix so evaded,
that one suspects there is much more that's broken
than mere o-rings that needed a fix. Could I refuse,
after all I've said, to pen one more letter to NASA
while you click the button; TEN...NINE...EIGHT...SEVEN...SIX...*
To the Mission Launch Pad
Whole Earth
Today begins dismantling our pride and so much more
as the last shuttle weaves through the loom of sky,
when NASA was a public commons of that most uncommon kind
and our imaginations journeyed free among the stars.
It was for all to see and none to own, the wonders that
were launched and skyward sent, that thunder in our bones
that took us to the shores of space and well beyond
to where the curiosity of children play in its embrace.
It was for us to wander on the sheer expanse of wondering
thatin each giant step, stepped across the commons of our mind.
Return then from each journey with incalculable wealth,
the knowledge of the orgins and destinies of humankind.
To step upon the moon or glimpse the birthplace of the stars
where far beyond, we watched amazed as telescope and island sky
made limitless those gifts delivered up to our surprise.
One of them , though very near to dream, a photo
from the shores of space that none of us had ever seen.
Though NASA sought to keep it to itself, one of us
insisted that it be revealed, for everyone to know
the gown of blue-white mist, that silent grace
and all we'd ever know of home, The Whole Earth
ours to keep or give away. Has NASA come to be
the journies end, proprietary stuff, and whose to say?
Before the darkness drops and what once was is gone,
before the face of silence that lay heavy on her brow
without a tear nor any witness to her fate—
what happened where we stood dry-eyed and watched
the crumbling edifice, a vision dimmed
where less of us remains—hold on to what is
further than the furthest star, closer than your eye
is to this page. It is the 'whole earth heart' within,
forever ours, or ours alone to give away.
To the Mission Launch Pad
Mission notes & documents [from most recent to earliest]:
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[Mission #2: from redslider to NASA 3/31/2011 3:13 pm]
Subject: Question not answered
Dear NASA,
I do not think you understood my previous question (see below, 3/28).
What I asked was, "Are there any poets on NASA staff?" and, "If not, why not?"
I am not interested in a job, I am not looking for work. The question is self-explanatory. If that is difficult to understand
then you may go to http://holopoet.com/Poems/mission-accomplished.htm for a more detailed specification.
Thank you for your kind attention,
Red Slider,
California Advocates for the 21st Century
www.holopoet.com
ca21c@ca21c.com
red@holopoet.com
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[Mission #1.b: from NASA-Education 3/29/2011 7:22 am:]
Thank you for writing to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
To learn about working for NASA, please visit the NASA Jobs page http://nasajobs.nasa.gov.
The NASA Occupations page http://nasajobs.nasa.gov/jobs/occupations.htm lists the types of jobs at NASA and has links
to the qualifications for the jobs. As with many government agencies, NASA uses contractors at the various NASA centers
to help fill positions. If you go to the link below, you should find some helpful information.
http://nasajobs.nasa.gov/jobs/contractors.htm
We hope you find this information helpful and thank you again for writing to NASA.
-- NASA Education
You are encouraged to visit http://www.nasa.gov frequently for the latest NASA news and information.
To stay aware of current educational opportunities and new NASA educational products, subscribe to the EXPRESS mailing list.
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/Express_Landing.html
NASA also invites you to consider using one or more of the following easy and convenient communications tools for receiving
NASA Updates on the exciting work NASA is doing.
* Subscribe to E-mail Delivery - Simply go to www.nasa.gov, enter your e-mail address, set your delivery preferences,
and choose your area(s) of interest.
* Receive Updates by RSS (Really Simple Syndication) - NASA RSS Feeds are available at http://www.nasa.gov/rss/index.html
* Join Twitter at http://twitter.com/NASA
Mission #1.a From: red [mailto:red@holopoet.com]
Sent: Monday, March 28, 2011 6:16 PM
To: education@nasa.gov
Does NASA have any professional poets on its staff; to document its history,
its people, its ideas, activities and projects in ways that cannot otherwise be said?
If not, why not?
Thank you,
Red Slider
www.holopoet.com
CLIO MISSION STATUS BOARD: Poets for NASA
| Mission Name |
Mission Description |
Status |
Reference |
| Ite/Agog |
7/9/11: launch 'The Poem Not Taken' |
completed |
poem |
| Inyan |
7/4/11: Change.org Petition for NASA Poets Launched |
Pending |
Change.org |
| Ksa2 |
3/31/11: Resend question to NASA Education |
Pending |
hololtr2 |
| Ksa |
3/28/11: First Inquiry to NASA - "Are there poets on staff? if not, why not?" |
mission failed |
hololtr1a
hololtr1b |
CALLIOPE MISSION STATUS BOARD: Starship DARPA
| Mission Name |
Mission Description |
Status |
Reference |
| Aiode I |
8/18/11: Launch Change.org petition |
pending |
Change.org Petition
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