Astronauts are also Mortal

Gagarin first man in space but also the thirteenth
the sun god Ra and murderous Isis
Elijah and Jesus and you
Mohammad hovering above Jerusalem
Refusing to enter Paradise but unclothed
And reduced to a heap of ashes

You prophet Elijah carried by your horses
Burning close to the sun

All of your cosmonauts carried by our dreams
Floating above sleep
All of you pioneers of that space

Which lingers between atom and dream
We heard the tremendous minute of silence
You all stood when Gagarin came to you
The great child in the great machine.