It Isn’t Rocket Science Any More

Once Wernher von Braun
Regaled excited children
About rockets on TV.

Linus Pauling was a hero,
And boys and girls would dream
Of growing up as scientists.

But after half a century
We worship hip hop stars
And hot day traders;

Our schools don’t graduate
Sufficient engineers and scientists
To replace the ones retiring;

“Intelligent Design” looks
More and more believable
To growing counts of parents;

And a President
Might protect our precious freedoms
By tapping all our telephones.

©2006 John I. Blair, Rev. 2010

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