last thoughts

icicles hung from its bottom but still

the boosters lit with a deafening roar

drowned the stomping of thousands of frozen

feet below as all watched in anticipation as it

shook and rattled, then rose straight up off

the 39B launch pad into that seemingly clear

blue sky which, only a few seconds more,

would burst into brilliant reds and oranges as

pieces of metal and desperate thought spiraled

downward her teasing eyes once looked

deep into those of her son as she told him all about

how she'd have to take out the stuffing from

his frog fleegle so she could take him with her