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Michael R Burch Mar 2020
Alien Nation
by Michael R. Burch

for J. S. S., a "Christian" poet

On a lonely outpost on Mars
the astronaut practices “speech”
as alien to primates below
as mute stars winking high, out of reach.

And his words fall as bright and as chill
as ice crystals on Kilimanjaro —
far colder than Jesus’s words
over the “fortunate” sparrow.

And I understand how gentle Emily
felt, when all comfort had flown,
gazing into those inhuman eyes,
feeling zero at the bone.

Oh, how can I grok his arctic thought?
For if he is human, I am not.

Note: The coinage “grok” appears in Robert Heinlein’s classic sci-fi novel "Stranger in a Strange Land." The novel’s protagonist, Valentine Michael Smith, was raised on Mars by enlightened Martians, and he often feels out of sorts on Earth, where he struggles to grok (understand deeply and profoundly) earthlings and their primitive, often inhuman, ways. Keywords/Tags: Mars, astronaut, alien, primates, stars, words, ice, crystals, Jesus, sparrow, Emily, Dickinson, zero, bone, arctic, thought, human, inhuman
nick armbrister Mar 2020
Martian Gothic (short)
Unique environment unique people.
Fifteen thousand metre mountain vertical south face.
Two pretty Goth girls stood on the edge.
One footstep fall to Martian plateau.
Three hundred metres ahead thirty metre layer of Cirrus cloud.
Terraforming worked brilliantly Earth like atmosphere.
Olympus Mons great holiday destination for East European adventurers.
Hanneke had waist length black hair,
Silge shoulder length red hair with lip piercings.
Both beautiful like the magnificent sci-fi film landscape.
Chance to hike,
enjoy stunning views after their Earth based Martian Geology course and field trip.
Shofi Ahmed Mar 2020
Oops all of a sudden we are shunning to come out
though our bird by design laughs all the way to Mars.
We don't want to because of a coronavirus bug
but it isn't an alien came out from the far
the monster broke out from our very thin air!

Come, see our space bird the spacecraft
hops up on to the solar world like a breeze
as if flying one tree to the other tree.
Hang on its yet to sing the story
from our epic album of technology.

As it crosses the trap the Van Allen Belt
it goes through like a seasoned pro
and blinds the moon on the first go!
Oh amazing what it sees on the next mo
a man-made bird in Mars landed its foot.

Our space bird spreads the wings
far from the Moon from the Jupiter
tweeting from our science pages at par
from the planet after planet raising the bar.

But now all stay home it's risky to walk far
perhaps we forgot the unseen hole is deeper
what's lurking nearby then the black hole afar.
Where the moon lits candlelight isn't by the stars
far from venus over the sea is closer to us!
Nicholas Feb 2020
Splashes of water to the face
in order to save face.

I don’t think I’m meant for this place
but maybe I’d do better in outer space
if Elon sent me to Mars where I can set up base.
up there would be no rat race,
up there I’d set the pace
and I would lead it with grace

then send me to hyperspace
to see where the chips float.
Erian Rose Feb 2020
If the world
Tries to tear us apart
I'll build a rocket ship
And we'll colonize Mars
Tiana Jan 2020
The wide world infront of me
With a countless option to choose,
My heart craves for most of it,
I'll try my best,
What's there to lose?

From flying to climbing
and exploring space,
From studying stars and prepare
to reach Mars,
Observing the magic of lights
at the north,
A kingdom of isolation is what I want
To test out the magic I've got;

More than thoughts
These are my dreams,
To explore the unknown
And rule my kingdom alone,
As a powerful Queen ;

But I realized,
Beyond myself there's a world,

The world that is neglected,
deprived of peace and humanity,

That is being perpetually reigned
by extreme negativity,

The devastating circumstances that can't be understood
by the beings of the privileged society ;

And for that world,
Staying silent isn't an option
Rather it has become a habit for us,
The habit that is letting
blood and cries to stain
our world's beautiful canvas;

And only raising voice isn't enough
I have to let my actions speak for me
If I want my world to get rid of this cruel
handcuff;

And I'll let my dreams be that big
In which
The whole world can fit;

I'll be living my dream
While making sure
Others can at least
learn to dream;
SøułSurvivør Dec 2019
arcing toward
a dark heaven
a futile ******
earth still
binds
me
but
not
my


death by flying too
close to Mars
warrior that
he is

he sent his arrows
which lanced my
♡ with such
longing it
could not
be controlled
anymore
than a
bird
is
bound
by
the
air

and, so, the tears in
night's fabric
are sewn
by





Catherine Jarvis
(C) 12/24/2019
Though i usually write in rhyme, I felt lead to write this piece. I wrote the title first & the rest sort of evolved.
Alia Dec 2019
Red planet up in the sky
Someone looked at you and thought of blood
That's how you gained this name

Why did they think of blood?
And not of apples, freshly picked
Or a rose, beautifully delicate
But even an apple has pips
And even a rose has thorns
So maybe, either way, your name would have held pain

Violence has haunted us for generations and generations
I guess, Mars, what you represent has become the only constant in human life
A terrible constant
But reliable nonetheless
Humans seek constants
Maybe that is why you were named Mars
Carlo C Gomez Dec 2019
The drive is endless, perilous,
and being recorded for posterity,
because one planet
is no longer enough.

H.P. Lovecraft is at the wheel,
and we're looking at one thing
and not your mother.

That was a Freudian slip,
but not really surprising
since he's also along for the ride.

And when we get there
we'll scavenge for sovereignty
in the orange filter of hope.

Then a flag will mark
our demesne,
a spot defining both
pride & terror,
as it delivers a dose of ambition,
yet, reeks of future tyranny.

Pray our luck runs out along the way
or we run out of gas
or steam
or headway...

Then again, maybe we should
hope for the breast.
I mean best !
Freud's at it again.
Because one planet is no longer enough
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