Europa

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A Poem by Rick Puetter

Oh cold moon, do you hold the flicker of life beneath your cold ice?

A photograph of the moon Europa

Dear reader--see notes below for additional information. Best regards -- Rick

Europa

Frigid orb, share now thy secrets.

What do you shroud from eye of Man?

What cuddle you, if aught, enfolded ‘neath thy icy cloak?

Do you hide great secret with thy distance?

Oh fair, Phoenician goddess,

Princess of Tyre and beloved of Zeus,

Chase you silent, cold moon, ‘bout your circuit,

Entranced still by thy Lord’s mighty pull?

Issue of Io, Hera’s priestess,

She, too, abducted by lustful Jupiter,

Share you thy Lord’s attendance with matriarch of your line,

Innermost in your Master’s circle?

But that grande dame, barren is she now,

And of hot temper,

Churned by the intemperate whims of her Lord.

She is spent and will no children bear.

Sad Europa, scored is your face.

Cold orb, sad is your heart.

Yet do gentle children laugh in thee?

What tender treasures may yet spring from thee?

Mournful Lady, eyes are upon you.

You have ensnared heart with hope.

We watch thee with anticipation of Life's fire.

May your legacy bring miracle and wonderment to all.

Notes

Compared to other moons found in the solar system, Europa’s surface is smooth and young. This has led to the speculation that beneath its surface may be a water ocean that could harbor life. Because of this possibility, NASA is planning to launch a mission to Europa in 2020, the Europa, Jupiter System Mission.

Io and Europa are moons of Jupiter. In mythology, Io was the priestess of Hera, Zeus’ wife. It is further thought that Europa's lineage descended from Io. Both Io and Europa were raped by Zeus, giving them "goddess" status although they were of mortal birth. Io is also the innermost Galilean moon of Jupiter. So she is “Innermost in your Master’s circle”. However, being so close in to Jupiter, Io’s interior is churned by orbital stress, which heats the moon’s interior, causing extensive volcanism, and so the moon is so hot that life almost certainly cannot exist there, i.e., “She is spent and will no children bear”. But Europa is much cooler and probably has brine oceans below the ice layers which may harbor life. Let’s hope that future space probes will recognize and discover this life.

© 2009 Rick Puetter

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Featured Review

Helena

Dear Rick,

Absolutely stunning in every respect my talented friend. I hung on every word....each
poetic and beautiful image twirled around in my imagination until
I seemed to be drawn into the lines and living this outstanding poem.
So many beautiful metaphors, exquite penning and excellent crafting
made this a truly outstanding work.

Good job indeed Rick!

Helena