In Disguise

From the time he learned
That fingers are for something
Other than sucking
He took things apart
To the chagrin of his mother
Who scolded and fussed
Then threw away the broken bits
Until he learned
To take them apart
In secret
Saving time
To put the bits back
Piece by piece
Into one complete
Functioning part.

He gots Cs and Ds
Except when it came to
Making batteries
Slicing frogs
And blowing up models
Of volcanoes and Messerschmitts.

Scout camp
Space camp
NASA camp
Air Force Academy
Then NASA for real
All was calculated
Put together
Bit by bit
Leading him to
His shot in space.

And finally, at last,
When the mission orders came,
Kissing wife goodbye
Riding high on a rocket
Leaving earth behind
Looking out the window
Of the tiny capsule
Seeing blue water
Green continents
And shiny ice caps
He was stunned to discover
The scientist he knew
Himself to be
Was really a poet
In disguise.