“If I Found Water on Mars”

(c) Kerri Nicole McCaffrey, 2012

 

If I found water on Mars,

breaking through

the red crust

of Martian soil—

with my NASA

pick axe

(as if lancing some boil)—

water turning

the red sands white—

my nation watching

from Mothership Earth

like a hungry pride

as their domestic lion turned wild

initiated her first kill

the media lauding,

“Isn’t she valiant?”

I would kneel and pray

a prayer

for that planet

(as a compassionate alien),

like some astronaut priest

beseeching God’s mercy

on that place’s soul

and other points

as salient.