Reflections of a Starship Captain (Captain's Reply)

by DebbieKatz

Each of the 2 "New Voyages" books (collections of stories by fans, edited by Marshak & Culbreath) ended with a sonnet, in Spock's voice. The second one, "Soliloquy" spoke of the pain of emotions & his feelings of friendship (or more) for Kirk. This was my effort at Kirk's response. I did send it to the editors, in hopes that they would use it, but there never was a "New Voyages 3".

Reflections of a Starship Captain
(Captain's Reply)

There are some things that best are left unsaid,
And so I never spoke of them to you.
But every time the others feared me dead,
You risked your life to bring me safely through.

The thanks I offered you, you turned aside,
Explaining, with the logic of your race,
That if you had demurred and I had died,
Star Fleet would find it hard to fill my place.

We Humans have our feelings to express,
And yet, such things, you tell us, cause you pain.
So, though inside we feel our love no less.
Respectful of your reasons, we refrain.

What can I say to you but call you "Friend",
And offer you my life until its end?