A celesteal quest

I saw an old man, yelling to a crowd
For his age, he seemed strong and proud
He shivered with energy, full of fight
Though his tone throughout was only polite

He told terrific tales, beyond that sanity would venture
Yet the gathered held breath to learn the next adventure
He'd fought off Death, lost his Earthy brace
And began his soliloquy on a sojourn to space


Though the other stories made him seem off his trolley
This venture he claimed as his greatest folly
You see - he did not go alone, but in fact brought guests
Distinguished too, as he was a gentleman and no less

Logically, he deduced the most cultured souls
From history, fiction, and long lost scrolls
Dr Livingston, first, the great adventurer and gentleman
Arthur Dent for the resourcefulness and creative invention

The Mad Hatter as tailor, caterer, and talker galore
Captain Jean Luc Picard to lead as the exhibition core
A gallant crew, they reached their goal with ease
Exuberant with joy, they sank to their knees

Proceeded, as you do, to lay out a table and chairs
With a fine chequered cloth they had previously prepared
Silver knives with scrumptious scones, clotted cream
A flat-pack butler brought saucers and china cups to the scene

At that point, barely able to hide glee
They'd brought out the finest Earl Grey tea
It was then realised an error to test their mettle
They had everything they needed, minus the kettle

For such refined beings to lack a proper brew
Was a torturous trial they might not make through
Nothing would cause the more shame, nor more regret
Than so fantastic a breach of core etiquette

The Hatter insisted, they should not panic
That one would appear, for such fanatics
Between them they had such faith and belief
The universe would comply and solve their grief

Arthur insisted, though it was impossible, they should try
The Captain wanted to make it so with a cry
The Dr. said, it should work, he'd presume
The old man said this was when he started to fume

It was his job, his duty, to provide the crockery
But such lack of logic was simply a mockery
The others scoffed, and began to yell and shout
Only Russell's teapot, could form such a burden of doubt


The old man paused, the crowd held their breath
The philosopher here who had conquered death
Announced the teapot indeed formed, and raised the roof
When he unveiled there and then the burden of his proof



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell%27s_teapot