One Small Step - Poem

I grew up in the small New Zealand town of Gisborne
Where I occasionally gazed at the stars
I even joined the astronomical society
Where the topic of conversation was either the Moon or Mars

Ten years later I was in the jungles of Vietnam
Fighting in a war
I did not have time to gaze at the stars
Or talk about the Moon or Mars or anything more

But in July of 1969 I heard about
The giant leap for mankind
How the western world was rejoicing
There was no Vietnam in mind

But one small step made
By a soldier on patrol that same July
An anti-personnel mine he did tred
Three seriously wounded and three they did die

How many men were killed that month
When man walked upon the moon
Could not the money or technology have saved their lives
Instead of sending them to their doom.

R.W. Hamon
2 Sec, 2 Pl, Whiskey Two RNZIR
4 & 6 RAR ANZAC BNs
Vietnam 1968 - 69

Copyright Richard William Hamon. Not to be published or reproduced without the permission of the copyright holder.