Earthbase Unst

EARTHBASE UNST

For launching rockets into space

Unst has to be the perfect place

It isn’t very far away

Just three ferries, and several days

From the Scottish mainland, or Norway

Which is slightly nearer anyway

And the weather will make launching easy

It’s calm, and dry, and never breezy

Except maybe for the odd occasion

When the wind destroys the radar station

But really, you need have no fear

That only happens twice a year

At other times, there’s not a peep

You’ll never see a flying sheep

A tumbling caravan, or boat

Or new-built house, suddenly afloat

Don’t credit what naysayers say

It beats Cape Canaveral any day

There’s wildlife, but not really a lot

Bonxies and puffins won’t give a jot

If their peace and quiet is to be shattered

A few burnt otters? They won’t matter

And when launching  you don’t have to shoot

At airliners on the polar route

Or worry about ships at sea

It’s not as if there’s going to be

Any more drilling for oil out there

And does anybody really care

About the noise, the raucous roaring?

The silence can get rather boring

So come, oh, spacemen and women too!

Unst surely welcomes all of you!

There’s local beer, and soup and gin

And a swimming pool to frolic in

And if you ever wonder where you are

You’re only  one small step from Mars

That’s what the vikings used to say

When they decided they would stay

Like them -  relax, eat, drink and be merry

Don’t worry if you miss the ferry

Or if the launch date is delayed

Shoot for the moon some other day

Copyright Tom Morton 2017