what the phoenix saw

the camera reports another hue
what we can see astonishes the eye
the martian sunset is a shocking blue

on the red planet we observe the new
the stars are brighter in that darker sky
the camera reports another hue

 

 

we get to see this from the forward pew
robotic vision can tell us no lie
the martian sunset is a shocking blue

 

this is astonishing this polar view
we thought a martian heaven dark and high
the camera reports another hue

a vision of this sort we had been due
in tales that ares would soon dignify
the martian sunset is a shocking blue

i urge the journey of a human crew
with all the skill that knowledge can supply
the camera reports another hue
the martian sunset is a shocking blue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a truer sort of learning

as when you are a young lad reading poe
the world is full of all its magic still
there seem to be so many things to know

no place there is you’d be ashamed to go
for there is nothing that can bar your will
as when you are a young lad reading poe

the clock will tell you time just moves too slow
the water rises but it will not spill
there seem to be so many things to know

you are the master of this puppet show
but have to spend each day learning a skill
as when you are a young lad reading poe

your father wants you out there with the hoe
the yams must come out each from their own hill
there seem to be so many things to know

this is a world into which you much grow
there is a learning that may one day kill
as when you are a young lad reading poe
there seem to be so many things to know

before the tornado

a moment more and then the sirens fail
you can’t outrun the storm nor flee the sight
of all the things that hold the world upright

so much of justice we find is for sale
we must stay silent for our choice is slight
a moment more and then the sirens fail

this is no simple village fireside tale
for children’s ears on a dark moonless night
we shoot the dog before it takes a bite
a moment more and then the sirens fail