Take Us to your Poets 


I came upon them by a lonely road
Deep in the wilderness
With something strange hovering overhead.
They'd learned my language, not important how:
"Standard procedures, like hundreds before; no big deal."
But they did have a favor to ask.

"A favor?  Like taking you to our leader?"
"Your leader?  Eventually.
We should exchange assurances of good faith,
Agree on ground rules, mark the traffic lanes,
Stuff like that.  All quite necessary.
But there's plenty of time for attending to that,
And we have more urgent needs.
     So take us to your poets,
     Your dreamers,
     Your dancers in the moonlight.
     Those your leaders cannot speak for
     Because they make their own worlds
     No others can invade or conquer."

          (awkward pause)

"Uh, ... that's all well and good,
But not quite what I was expecting.
Maybe first I should take you to our scientists?"
"Your scientists?  Eventually.
We should cross-check our knowledge against yours,
Finding where each can fill the other's gaps
And what each can learn from the other.
But there's plenty of time for attending to that,
And we have more urgent needs.
     So take us to your poets,
     Your dreamers,
     Your dancers in the moonlight.
     Those the physical cannot limit
     Because they see beyond beyond
     And do not stop at 'That can't be'."

          (awkward pause)

"Uh, ... that's all well and good,
But not quite what I was expecting.
Maybe your ship needs something?
Our ship?  Eventually.
We are a little low on fuel
And before we leave your world
Certain items will want minor repairs.
But there's plenty of time for attending to that,
And we have more urgent needs.
     So take us to your poets,
     Your dreamers,
     Your dancers in the moonlight.
     For we are dangerously low on dreams
     And need to relight our inner fires
     Without which all worlds are dark and empty."


                                        Thomas G. Digby

                                        entered 1635 hr  4/11/92
                                        format  14:02 12/22/2001