Eulogy – R.K. Lightfoot

The little rover we sent beyond our reach.

The wonders of Mars you did teach

Turned 90 days, into 15 years of adventure

One storm too many, put an end to that splendour

Your haunting final words left a mark

‘My battery is low and it’s getting dark’

One day, not soon, but one day

We’ll join you up there, I pray

We’ll dust you off, and declare in unity

Thank you dear Oppy. You truly were a once in a lifetime Opportunity

– R.K. Lightfoot

‘Dearest Oppy’ is a poem I wrote years ago to commemorate the Mars rover Opportunity’s last contact with NASA. I recently came across it again while looking through my old work, and was still oddly moved by it. So I thought I might as well let it see the light of day and post it here.