Anniversary of Rovers on Mars 


“This planet needs our shovels’ bite And treadmarks in the dust To tell if life and hematite Pervade its arid crust.” 

As we pass the anniversary of those plucky Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, it seems fitting to mark it with this poem from John Updike in the New Yorker last Feb.:

DUET ON MARS
by John Updike
Issue of 2004-03-01
Posted 2004-02-23

Said Spirit to Opportunity,
“I’m feeling rather frail,
With too much in my memory,
Plus barrels of e-mail.”

Responded Opportunity,
“My bounce was not so bad,
But now they send me out to see
These dreary rocks, bedad!”

“It’s cold up here, and rather red,”
Sighed Spirit. “I feel faint.”
Good Opportunity then said,
“Crawl on, without complaint!

“This planet needs our shovels’ bite
And treadmarks in the dust
To tell if life and hematite
Pervade its arid crust.”

“There’s life, by all the stars above,
On Mars—it’s you and I!”
Blithe Spirit cried. “Let’s rove, my love,
And meet before we die!”
 

Posted: Sat - January 1, 2005 at 10:29 a.m.         | |

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