Poem: Fermi Paradox

 

Paradox

 

the moon, a half-gone omen,

bitter in the pre-dawn dark. a ghost 

above the city's latticed ventricles,

ganglions of rush hour

and urban industrial muscles,

its artificial, bright multitudinous unhappy face.

 

and the people, the ants, rush galvanic

chasing after genies to establish a venture of hives,

yoked by the wings of their great savior Eagle,

feathers glistering with stolen silver and land.

 

so bright!

surely it will never be dark again.

and yet, once more, the night turns young

to testify in smog and the ruck of dust.

and the moon, up there somewhere,

swings with the peace of a sickled guillotine,

reaping the prayerful lament of tears. 

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9/3/24 eds

6/30/24

May 5 [changed poem to present tense from past tense.  "chase" replaces "chased," "arrives" replaces "arrived" ..etc.]

May 5 "glistering" replaces "glistening"

May 6:  "bitter in the pre-dawn dark" replaces "hangs bitter ... "