Stardust
Aurorae over the blanket of Ganymede
tell of ocean under 100 miles of ice,
of the potential for life we can recognize,
close, in galactic terms, to home,
more within reach than distant stars.
Liquid water discovered
under the icy surface of moons,
warmed by gravitational friction,
Jupiter and Saturn their suns,
tantalize us with possibilities.
As we look out on the mess of Earth,
seven billion locusts swarming;
something better must be out there,
just far enough that
we can’t taint it.