Lines on the Death of Herschel

So farewell, then,
Herschel
Space
Observatory.

You were named after
William Herschel,
Who lived
During the reign of
George III.
The mad King
Who went blind,
Then died.

You went blind
Then died.
But there the
Similarity
Ends.

You ran out
Of Helium;
He had no
Need of He.

And he was neither
In Space
Nor an
Observatory,
So forget
It.

by Peter Coles (aged 49 11/12).

2 Responses to “Lines on the Death of Herschel”

  1. […] true calling. As this wonderfully mature and deep composition below shows (the link for it is also here), Peter should really be a published poet. At the tender age of 49 and 11/12 when this poem was […]

  2. And you couldn’t play the piano
    As well as he could….

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