preflight check

when we land

will
we remember the simple gift
to
be free

say
shall we play
Appalachian Spring
newly
over mountain ranges

also
will we give thanks for fire and
for ice
by which we live

then will we indeed act as
supplicants to God with
a new
name on a new-ancient altar

then will there be relief and
then
cynicism set in
for
we forgot
the need that brought us
here

or when we
find the answers have not
changed
by
horizon

so
we might answer
then
with boredom
or
with war having got over
wonder and remembering
the old
destructions
from
acquisition

c l couch

photo by Lee Paz on Unsplash
“Starship SN9”