In deep time when the air was fat with moisture and warmth
you soared in low gravity, swooped over and along deep Marineris
scrabbled amongst rust red rocks, seeking the treasure of tasty morsels.
Then, as the air fizzed away to trail behind your little planets orbit
and the planetary heart chilled to immobility
so you chilled and slowed.
Settling down to a hibernation, waiting the warmth of a spring
that has never come.
Blanketed by wind borne dust you have been slumbering
in your crater nest.
Now those selfsame winds have scoured away your cover
revealing your raised scales.
Massive glider, hidden dragon.
Copyright © 2018 Kim Whysall-Hammond
(Thank you Nesa, for the idea!)
Bunge Crater Dunes — Fans and ribbons of dark sand dunes creep across the floor of Bunge Crater in response to winds blowing from the direction at the top of the picture. The frame is about 14 kilometers (9 miles) wide. This image was taken in January 2006 by the Thermal Emission Imaging System instrument on NASA’s Mars Odyssey orbiter and posted in a special December 2010 set marking the occasion of Odyssey becoming the longest-working Mars spacecraft in history. The pictured location on Mars is 33.8 degrees south latitude, 311.4 degrees east longitude. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Arizona State University
Wonderful poem to go with an amazing picture !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glorious imagery, timeless echoing words
LikeLiked by 1 person
To see the dragon in this image – you’ve plumbed the depths of the seas with genius, Kim. You remind me of those old maps with the serpent inscribed on dangerous and deep oceans – “There be dragons.” Yes there be – wonderful creatures reminding us we humans are not the first to tread.
I hope we never find a way to live on Mars – leave it be, it’s perfect as it is.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My friend Nesa saw the dragon, not me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your poem though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amazing!
LikeLiked by 1 person