I admire Michael Collins
Not because he flew to the Moon
I admire him because of
His courage and humility
Commanding the Apollo 11
Control Capsule with serenity
While waiting for Armstrong and Aldrin
Rethinking the sixteen plans
Avoiding the seventeenth possibility
Which was to head back to Earth alone
A journey he would hate to make on his own

For twenty-one hours alone in the capsule
He claimed he never felt alone and
He mostly felt “awareness, anticipation,
satisfaction, confidence, almost exultation” *

Turn Michael, turn in the command module
In orbiting a hundred kilometres above the moon

He dwelled on the fate of his crewmates
If sixteen plans didn’t work
He would have been the man who left
Armstrong and Aldrin up there
On the moon to their fate

Turn Michael turn in the command module
In orbiting a hundred kilometres above the moon

His secret fear didn’t happen
The three came back to Earth
The first two made it to the Hall of Fame
The third gently slid into Nasa’s history page

Rest in peace Michael Collins
A true pioneer and lifelong advocate for space exploration
I admire you my dear astronaut
You are the silent hero of my dreams
Any night I watch the moon
I send lots of kisses to you with admiration

(*Michael’s own words)

Muhsine Arda
Aug 21, 2021

(Michael Collins: October 31, 1930- April 28, 2021)