DIASPORA

Words by Edward Alport

We started small, without ambition. Would they welcome us? we said. Would they welcome us as we would welcome them? And if they did

What could we do about it?

And who were They?

We started small, just one small step. One giant leap that asked So many questions. Though some were never voiced: How easy was it to die out there?

What could we do about it?

And Who were They?

We started small with probes and tentacles. We pushed our noösphere beyond The limits of what our bodies could inhale And waited, to see What they would do about it. And who Were they.

These days, clever folk try to make Maps of just how far our tentacles have spread. We waited ‘till our deeds chimed echoes from star to star. And heard Silence.

No clues to what they would do about it, Or who They were.