Canoeing On Mars

Imagine that we are out boating on A lovely Sunday afternoon that floats Our imaginations like wind swept clouds, Rippling from horizon to horizon. You are pillowed in the bow of our canoe, A thin foam pad lifts you off wood ribbed bottom. No smooth fiberglass for us, a bright Umbrella protects you from the sun, And a wine-rich picnic basket awaits us As underwater green leaves dampen our motion In the shallow but glass-smooth mountain lake, That bends high breaking waves, ridges of buoyant rock Like a telescope lens, magnifying, doubling our joy. Craters marring our surface are more visible too, So close are we now that your flaws seem Almost touchable in the fragrant breeze As breathing its emotionally charged air We clumsily explore the terraformed landscape, Together, alone, here, Adam and Eve on Mars. Brian Johnston October 1, 2015