Tuesday, February 25, 2025

ÉLAN VITAL

It's possible that 
this whole time, we've been 
doing it wrong: 

searching for life 
as metabolites 

in the frozen oceans 
of Jupiter's moons 

when, in truth, 
it burns cleanest 
in the flame of our mistakes.

Our small losses 
accrete, and the travesty 
gains mass 

til it condenses 
and falls down
and puddles like rain 

in the sedimentary layers 
of rock-hard 
before and after. 

In fact, so rich is the vein
in the dirt 
beneath our feet 

that to say we could sort it 
and give it a name 

would defy any meaning 
or endeavor 
to explain.