If I Found Water on Mars
© 2011, by Kerri McCaffrey

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.