ODE BY A REDSHIRT

 I slide into Scotty's after hours to practice a possible    

Open Mike Night contribution.  Climbing up to the stage I   

think "How could I possibly do this if the place was full.  

I can barely do it when the place is dark?"  I tune the     

guitar (plonk, twonk, twang!!) and perching on an available 

stool say-                                                  

                                                            

ODE BY A REDSHIRT                                           

                                                            

I heard the Cap'n that fateful day,                         

Those old familiar orders say,                              

"Riker...away team...off you go,"                           

And then his favorite..."Make it so!"                       

                                                            

I thought how as I came to stand,                           

Upon that gray transporter pad                              

With tricorder to check the dirt.                           

And where did I get this redshirt?                          

                                                            

We beamed down to that planet fair,                         

but there was something in the air;                         

a shot, a blast, something did roast,                       

and I had been turned into toast.                           

                                                            

                                                            

"Hmmm-m-m, might need some more work"  I think as I slip    

back out the door (or is that out the back door?).