Cosmic Voyages


Somewhere out there
in the immensity of the cosmos
a messenger is on a voyage
speeding greetings from humanity

All kinds of languages
gold-plated symbols of hope
that we’re not alone
that someone, somewhere, some time
will read our message in a bottle
will hear Albert Einstein,
the beauty of Bach
the pop sensisbilities of the Beatles
and they will want to get to know us

this invitation was sent out
we know not what has happened
whether some otherworld intelligence listens
to the expurgated versions of human aspiration
or has some far off asteroid
smashed all hopes of interstellar cultural exchange?

Humans fear loneliness,
humanity is no different today
radio pulses join the Voyagers,
broadcasting our struggle with solitude

This cosmic obsession with company
contrasts itself to our terrestrial indifference,
to our unknown neighbours,
our latch-key kids, paved over backyards
and our pre-grave cemetaries for the aged

just what kind of planet are we now,
what kind of global self-promotion would we send today?

We could have choirs of religious bigotry
several choices of course
mantras of market-driven mania
the wisdom of Bill Gates
the manufactured tones of any all-girl, all-boy groups
would they want to get to know us?

Let’s just hope that if some intergalactic citizen
is beset by our advance greeting
that their meeting is not for nothing
let’s hope that when they finally make it here
we haven’t left behind crumbling concrete museums
and if so, let’s hope we’ve left a forwarding address.