Data Poem by Denis Martindale

From genius, this android came... with flesh that felt so warm...
And Data was the chosen name... for this in human form...
To grow in stature and in grace... and information, too...
To process years that then took place... till Starfleet came in view...
Then trained in the Academy... a few years then to leave...
Honours there for all to see... through merit to receive...
Assigned to Starship Enterprise... to serve Captain Picard...
When Farpoint made them realise... why Q judged Man so hard...
Humanity was still on trial... regardless, war or peace...
And Q still tested using guile... and made their pride to cease...
The Borg approached from distant space... from light-years brought by Q...
Discovering the Human Race... then planning what to do...
While Data studied what may come... there was no sense of fear...
For androids aren't afraid like some... no matter what comes near...

Emotions cloud all human thought... yet Data had no dreams...
Except to serve till getting caught... to learn the Borg Queen's schemes...
But when sensations came along... temptation rose within...
A tiny touch proved oh so strong... upon the android's skin...
Resisting feelings, Data stayed... as loyal as could be...
Though for a second Data strayed... that changed to dignity...
And while the future lay ahead... this seemed the finest hour...
Despite the ever-present dread... till time to overpower...
Resourceful to the bitter end... upon the final day...
Commander Data proved a friend... all life to give away...
To save the Captain, ship and crew... this hero then gave all...
The best android they ever knew... the one they would recall...
Because when heroes pay the cost... their courage they must test...
Starfleet remembers all they've lost... the finest and the best...


Denis Martindale August 2019.


The poem is a tribute to Commander Data of the Starship Enterprise.