This poem was written following the prompt; 'Dark Moon, New Moon' set by Poets United.
Space Junk
Dark moon, the stars twinkle,
specks of cosmic dust
on an ink black backdrop.
A satellite traverses the sky,
reflects light to an upturned eye.
Yes we even pollute the heavens.
Up there in the moonless void;
a glove, spanners, paint flecks, a toothbrush,
frozen drops of toxic chemicals
and shards of shattered metal,
circle the planet in a swirling mass
of supersonic debris.
Kessler theorised a chain reaction
where colliding debris shatters
into ever smaller pieces
each collision making more
of the speeding shrapnel.
The satellites we rely on
for weather, communication,
agriculture, defence,
location and even time
run a gauntlet through this heavenly garbage patch.
Our modern way of life is threatened
for without satellites; communication's lost;
markets crash, supply chains fail,
there's no internet, phone, there's no email.
and yet; out there, far beyond our own sphere...
we fly-tip on a cosmic scale
crashing space craft into other worlds
and our Voyagers speed onward
across intergalactic space
as we seek enlightenment
and new moons.
John Carré Buchanan
15 October 2017
If you click on the link below you can listen to me read this poem.
This poem is linked to Poets United.
Have to think that somewhere other species watch us and think we are complete idiots... a timely and incisive poem John.
ReplyDeleteThey would have their heads in their hands! Assuming they had heads and hands ;-) thanks for your comment Thotpurge.
DeleteI feel this o much! You pull our phenomena together into a coherent picture.
ReplyDeleteAnd I especially love this image:
"The satellites we rely on
for weather, communication,
agriculture, defence,
location and even time
run a gauntlet through this heavenly garbage patch."
Hi Susan, Thanks for your kind comment.
Deletefly tip on a cosmic scale - and an oceanic one too. Really enjoyed the way your words circle the theme
ReplyDeleteHi Telltaletherapy thank you for your comment.
DeleteWow!!!
ReplyDelete"Yes we even pollute the heavens."
this is thought provoking.
Happy WEdnesday John
much love...
Hi Gillena, Thank you for your kind comment.
DeleteLove how your poem opens up from the seed thought 'Dark moon / New Moon'...
ReplyDeleteHi Sumana, Thanks for your comment, I'm glad that you enjoyed the poems opening.
DeleteUp there in the moonless void;
ReplyDeletea glove, spanners, paint flecks, a toothbrush,
frozen drops of toxic chemicals
and shards of shattered metal,
circle the planet in a swirling mass
of supersonic debris.
I love how deep this is ... you have given me something to chew on :)
Hi Sanaa, Thank you for your kind comment, I am glad that my poem has made you ponder.
DeleteGreat observations in this thought-provoking piece. You brilliantly capture a sad image with these lines:
ReplyDeleteOur modern way of life is threatened
for without satellites; communication's lost...
Yet "we fly-tip on a cosmic scale...as we seek enlightenment and new moons."
Powerful and punching!
Hi Khaya, Thank you for your kind comment. I'm glad you found the poem thought provoking.
DeleteThis poem had good points for pondering. I am amazed at your knowledge in this subject. Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteHi J.T, Thank you for your kind comment. I always do a bit of research before I write a poem, I find it gives me a better understanding of what I'm writing about.
DeleteEnlightenment is in short supply.......in one hundred years we have managed to pollute an entire planet, an ocean and the stratosphere. Good grief.
ReplyDeleteHi Sherry, thanks for your comment, the sad thing is we actually managed it in just 70 years!
DeleteVery sad the way we have treated our mother.
ReplyDeleteSo true Toni, thanks for your comment.
DeleteLots of space junk. Just think, not so long ago, there was just the moon and maybe natural asteroids up there.
ReplyDeleteHi Rob, yep that's the point, the vast majority of the damage listed in my last 3 poems has been done in the last 70 years. And we are supposed to be getting more intelligent!
DeleteThanks for your comment.
Well said I am with you Great poem!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Marja, Thank you for your comment, I'm glad you liked the poem.
DeleteA wonderful poem. We can only ask, "why?"
ReplyDeleteHi Annell, Thank you for your kind comment. I am glad you liked the poem.
DeleteThought-provoking. Humans have added a lot to the 'moonless void.' Your poem made me realize that these additions come at a cost. It may be a while yet before we know whether or not they are worth it.
ReplyDeleteVery true Mary, thanks for your comment.
DeleteThis is a very interesting and well expressed poem. It does not surprise me that we have created 'heavenly garbage' To me this pollution is desecration, like knife cutting a Botticelli painting
ReplyDeleteand if we are reduced to going back to rubbing two sticks together to create fire then we can only blame ourselves.
Hi Rallentanda, thank you for your comment, sadly at the rate we are cutting down trees there won't be any sticks to rub together!
DeleteHorrifying thought, that the garbage is not only spreading through the oceans and all over Mt Everest but into space as well.
ReplyDeleteHi Rosemary, Thanks for your comment. It is Horrifying and needs everyone to play a role in reducing the damage we are doing to the planet we share.
Delete