Ice Star

What tidings do you bring Like Mercury from the gods You fiery-footed herald Of the vast unknown? How many civilizations did rise and fall Since your last report? How many seas have vanished From the cosmic shores Burned to vapor ‘neath a million suns And how many creatures spent their final breath Separate and alone On the brink of time? You have the answers You refuse to speak Or perhaps We do not hear Your foreign tongue Those flaming words enchant the eye But miss the brain. I cannot see you now. You stray too far. Afraid to touch this brittle earth Hurtling toward the gulf of black eclipse? Send my regards You vagabond Prince To those distant stars Beyond the light And whisper my story To the sleeping moons Nestled in their pillows Of galactic dust. And when next you return And find me gone Listen for an echo And speak for me To the wondering world Below. ~ Laurence Overmire (Previously published in Poetry DownUnder, March 2000; Report From X-Star 10, Indelible Mark Publishing,2009)