On Mars
The surface too hot, but bugs could live,
eating minerals from rocks, water
from an icy lake. Who could stay alive
in that atmosphere? Small creatures
that could crawl in small spaces,
with mouths as huge as their faces.
On Venus
The planet is too acidic and would burn
anything living. But the clouds in the sky
would provide food warmed by the sun,
could feed insects that would fly
and fly, and sleep on the wing.
Life would be light, always moving.
On Earth
Mars's bugs and Venus's insects
dream of each other and a planet
that allows both to inspect
the other's life. Could they plan it
to live and share on the same surface
without starting a war in space?
Planet Life by Emma Lee | Poetry Fabric Box
$15.00Price
Emma Lee’s publications include “The Significance of a Dress” (Arachne, 2020) and "Ghosts in the Desert" (IDP, 2015). She co-edited “Over Land, Over Sea,” (Five Leaves, 2015), reviews for magazines and blogs at https://emmalee1.wordpress.com.
