A Hollander's Secret Weapon

A Hollander's Secret Weapon: 1609

Invention of a spyglass
sent Galileo off to ponder
a re-invention unintended
for a combat situation.

A twenty power increase
in the lens, he turned it on the sky,
opening up the galaxy
for harmless speculation.

Four centuries have passed,
radar's replaced the glass,
yet still we war, and still,
we haven't touched the stars.