Sunday, September 21, 2014

756 - Beagle II

Sunday Whirl (Wordle #179) presents a list of words
that we must incorporate in a writing piece.  

The words this week are: 
live, give, heart, gold, expression, searching,
old, ocean, mind, keep, miner, crossed


Beagle II

The craft touched down with a puff of smoke
It had travelled from distant stars;
Its hold was filled with a million and two
Specimens, in large blue jars.

It had crossed the visible universe
Searching for sentient life:
To record their numbers in a ledger of sorts,
And dissect them, with a knife.

And so they came to this blue-brown globe,
Across the oceans of deep space,
To count and catalogue it’s brighter minds,
To see who ran this place.

What was clear to them when they searched around
Was the jungle now owned the city:
Cockroaches, ants and some scaly things,
Made up the welcoming committee.

They approached an old temple of sorts
With gold leaf upon the door;
“It seems place where they burnt their coal
And a miner who wanted more”.

The ship’s scientists were amazed at this,
“Surely they had noticed the sun?
It’s a power source that gives and gives,
There’s free energy by the ton.”

The expression displayed on the leader’s face
Was one of shock and doubt:
“Well, I guess all signs of intelligent life
Died when the coal ran out.”

The cockroaches were most offended, of course, 
To be so rudely sidelined:
“We have far exceeded those men of old,
We have a heart, we have a mind”.

The crew were getting rather restless now
They moaned “This place is far too hot.
It’s like living in a bloody greenhouse,
Let find a better spot!”

And so they filed back on board their ship,
To continue their collecting;
In one lone blue jar, kept in the hold below,
Was a cockroach, for dissecting.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2014
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22 comments:

  1. Those bloody cockroaches!

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  2. Where are the beagles?

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  3. If the cockroaches are so clever, why don't they play golf?

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  4. This would be really funny if it were not so true. The race for a quick buck is far more important than the planet's future.

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  5. A very thought provoking poem packaged in a delightful package

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  6. If I looked in the mirror would i be one of those cockroaches I wonder...I feel sorry for Beagle I lost on its mission...

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  7. ah! this a delight to read. The various elements depicted here make it more awesome. I too had dissected cockroaches during my graduation days, it was fun!!

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  8. i echo what PKP said...packaged in a delightful package...

    But, if those visitors would take time to witness that the flora that survived was agave, hops and peyote...and all the cockroaches were wearing huaraches

    gracias, wonderful piece

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  9. there's no doubt that this blue-brown planet is heading towards that fate...a home exclusively for cockroaches...thought provoking and entertaining...

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  10. I think you have pinpointed our destiny quite well...

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  11. Delightful read filled with wisdom and humor...a good combination.

    Elizabeth

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  12. I loved the ending, J.C. Every scientist should be as astute.
    The line, "Cockroaches, ants and some scaly things, got my attention. I am still wondering what those scaly things are?

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  13. A sad comment on how intent people are on destroying our earth.

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  14. That ship looks more like Babylon 5 than Beagle II. But really, what does a Bear know about anything?

    Blessings and Bear hugs!

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    Replies
    1. Far be it for me to question the judgement of a Bearonaut!

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