Radios blaring everywhere with the news.
It's impossible to think it's 6 a.m.
Everyone is down at the beachfront.
The historic countdown has begun.

You wander through the bustling campground.
There are even people still asleep.
For a while you stop and think of this,
But there's only time to dream.

It's too great a time to stop and eat,
On the way you grab something to munch;
Then back to the beach with a chair and some books,
You know that you're there now to stay.

At seven, the people start passing,
Studying the rocket across the way,
There are more and more people darting about,
It's the start of a glorious day.

There is traffic jamming all the highways,
You see that everywhere you turn;
More people are coming from nowhere,
At the shore there is more of a crowd.

At eight, the excitement has grown,
The scene has changed to the waterfront;
Newscasters on the radio counting the minutes,
You can feel the hearts beginning to soar.

Everyone is down at the beach by 8:30,
The flurry of anticipation encompasses all;
Everyone stares across the wide river,
There's only an hour to go.

Now the stragglers are drifting in,
There is more excitement and fear;
Everyone seems to be praying,
For success of the mission so near.

At nine all sights focus on the river,
All life seems to fade right away;
No one seems to know what to say,
And none really want to go play.

The children alone do not understand,
There is an air of tension on the beach;
Every heart seems to want to start pounding,
The lives of all people seem complete.

At 9:30 everyone stops, looks and listens,
9:31 - the stage has been set;
9:32 - the bird rises in glory,
Everyone stares and hopes for success.