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Mars Looks Down
by Bruce W NiedtYou cant miss me tonight,
the second-brightest thing in the sky,
unmistakably orange, unblinking as an eye,
slowly arcing through the south,
color of blood or rust,
albedo poking a bright hole in the dark.
The last time I was this close,
your ancestors were hunting mammoths.
Since then you have named me
after one of your gods of war,
dropped snooping little robots in my dust,
and built missiles on your shores.
I have no quarrel with you, neighbor.
I have always been here, trolling the firmament,
staring down without sparkle, never quite so large,
as you move, like mortals may,
toward greatness or self-destruction.
And I marvel at how far
and how close youve come. 09/06/2003 Author's Note: Honorable Mention, Nonrhyming Poetry category, Writer's Digest 2004 Annual Writing Competition; first published in Up and Under: The QND REview, Spring/Summer 2005.
Posted on 09/06/2003
Copyright © 2025 Bruce W Niedt
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by Chris Sorrenti on 09/10/03 at 04:07 PM Excellent work Bruce. The poem I wanted to write, but just couldn't seem to get started, or perhaps just happy to watch it move across the sky. Kudos! |
| Posted by David R Spellman on 09/10/03 at 07:52 PM An excellent look at humanity through this unique perspective. The ending is both promising and frightful to think that we may have come close to either possibility. Superb! |
| Posted by Ginette T Belle on 09/10/03 at 10:46 PM lovely personification poem...i went camping up north and got to see mars away from the city burning beautiful... |
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