Between the Waters

Posted by: EarlB, 11:49 AM GMT on June 08, 2013

Later this year, NASA hopes to launch an orbiter to Mars. The MAVEN
(Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN ) satellite will try to answer
questions about the past, present and future of Mars' upper atmosphere and
its interaction with the solar wind.

As part of the mission rollout, the MAVEN team is sponsoring both an art
competition and a poetry competition with winning selections being sent
into space aboard the spacecraft.

The art contest has closed, but the poetry contest is open for submissions
with voting by the online public to start on July 15 (submissions must
be in by July 1). The poems are to be written in English and in the Haiku
form (3 lines; 5 syllable first line, 7 syllable second line, 5 syllable third
line). Typically the Haiku is associated with a nature subject. The MAVEN
folks leave the definition undefined.

For all the information you might ever hope for about the mission, visit the
MAVEN website:

http://lasp.colorado.edu/home/maven/

at the bottom of that page is a link for submittals:

http://lasp.colorado.edu/maven/goingtomars

It isn't obvious how a person gets to view the submittals for voting purposes,
but that information will be forthcoming at the website.

Now is the time for you to get working on your poems! I've sent in three
poems as has my good friend Roy Tandy. Here are those poems and the links
sent from the MAVEN folks. In the confirmation emails, they say "Once voting
on messages begins, be sure to share this link with your friends and family
(hint, hint) so they can vote on your entry. Until voting begins, you will be
able to view the entry only after you log in."

My entries:

I am the petrel
Exploring ancient shorelines,
Of long-dry oceans.
http://lasp.colorado.edu/maven/goingtomars/entry/ ?21447

I soar high above,
Boiling storms of sand below,
Safe, black sky my home.
http://lasp.colorado.edu/maven/goingtomars/entry/ ?21448

Ten thousand suns shine,
None offer the warming comfort
Of Earth's Winter noon.
http://lasp.colorado.edu/maven/goingtomars/entry/ ?21449

Roy's entries:

Sunrise to sunset
I search for the last bits of
Phantom atmosphere.
http://lasp.colorado.edu/maven/goingtomars/entry/ ?22354

A distant embrace
Is all I have to offer
To a god of war.
http://lasp.colorado.edu/maven/goingtomars/entry/ ?22356

Like a death angel,
I hover above, waiting
For Mars' final breath.
http://lasp.colorado.edu/maven/goingtomars/entry/ ?22353

(I don't hold it against you if you like Roy's work better than mine!!)

Put your thinking caps on and start writing. You are apparently limited
to three poems, but that's a good start. And rather than using my attempts
at Haiku, you might be better served to view the masters such as Basho
and Issa. Here's a link to the Wikipedia entry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haiku

You are only 17 syllables away from going to Mars!

Eb

Updated: 4:53 PM GMT on June 08, 2013

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Harvest Time

Posted by: EarlB, 12:40 AM GMT on May 26, 2013

Time's effect is seen
As Spring warms,
As the wheat heads swell.

It's the story we all know
Because we are the wheat, too,
Steadily filling toward maturity.

We've swelled too
As our days warmed:
Our teachers, our suns.

Now it's time
To sow the seeds of our wisdom,
To plant for the next season.

Soon enough,
It'll be time
For the harvest.

Winter Wheat

Updated: 12:41 AM GMT on May 26, 2013

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Leters from Home (15) Winter Wheat

Posted by: EarlB, 11:55 AM GMT on May 02, 2013

Dear Zoe.

Here we go again, Springtime is in full swing here, everything is
bursting with green. The peach trees have shed their pink blossoms
and replaced them with leaves, the apples and pears are currently
covered with both green leaves and pink-white blossoms, for some,
the blossoms don't need a solo, starring role.

But the most impressive life-filled rebirth is that of the 28 acres of
winter wheat surroundin...

Updated: 12:57 PM GMT on May 11, 2013

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A Haiku Triplet

Posted by: EarlB, 12:27 AM GMT on April 21, 2013

Night's dark mystery's
Imagination on fire:
Sweet poetic muse.

The moon's a button
On night's black velvet vest,
Undress night gently.

With dear beloved night,
I walked starred paths… hand-in-hand
Toward morning's marriage.

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Goodbye

Posted by: EarlB, 10:57 AM GMT on April 07, 2013

Goodbye, goodbye
Old friend,
It's your time to pass over.

I'll think of you often,
Think of you fondly
As I gradually grow away.

You taught cold truths
With warm heart.
You taught me well.

Goodbye sharp-edged blue skies,
Goodbye spear-pointed winds,
Goodbye white night-storms,
Goodbye dear Winter.

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