One Girl's Discoveries Poem by Cathryn Hankla

A sky-gazing child, intrigued
by constellations and stormy weather,
tornadoes and ripe tomatoes,
Lisa announced over fruit loops
her aspiration to join NASA.

A. Mother said, "Stop, you're a girl."
B. Mother said, "But I never went to college."
C. Mother said, "That's crazy."
D. Mother said, "Shoot for the stars."

At nineteen, she discovered .
She said, "People expect me to be older."
Lisa traveled to Arecibo, Puerto Rico,
to the world's largest radio telescope.
Awaiting confirmation: five other galaxies.

Data the young woman ponders
are older than she will ever be.
Lisa maintains rapt fascination
for physics and meteorology.
(The answer above is D.)