Europa

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.

 

 

 

 

 

©2009 Richard Puetter

All rights reserved

 

 

 

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.

Reviews

[Greg Close]

I think NASA is moving forward with a Europa probe in the near future, which of course will be the not-so-near future by the time it arrives, but still... a timely piece. Great word choice, great rhythm, great research and great juxtaposition of the classical and scientific. As usual, just pretty great all around.

[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

[Sheila Kline]

Dear Rick!

Knowing your writing as I do, I must delve into the message of this beautiful ode.......

What are the secrets that are hidden from others...this orb so cold/frigid, shrouded ( I love the use of the word shroud, as it especially denotes masked), as yet from the eye of man - though we shall try and determine what this smooth moon has hidden beneath the surface,.... so you ask if there are secrets hidden beneath the enfolds of ice...I note the word enfolds,..held tightly....that is yet a question to be answered.

The next verse.....you question...chase you silent 'bout your circuit, entranced still by the Lord's mighty pull....is she torn apart, or part of a celestial system that is controlled by a master planet?...Zeus being the parent/head planet. Does another body/constellation connect to this moon?

Are you referring to more spheres/planets that would be a system of celestial bodies with lustful Jupiter?
Is Europea the center of this universe? In the next verse, it almost sounds as if this moon has been spent, cut-off, or cast off from her mother planet/moon, as her mother's star/energy is burned out, and distanced from the rest of the system.

Because Europa appears cold, you determine if she is cold with lack of helpful/worthy qualities, or does she
hold goodness/matter to be discovered with new exploration - what tender treasures may spring from "thee"?

And, in the last verse...though this planet is considered to be a Mournful Lady...I absolutely love the term used for her at this point.......Lady being of such substance...she holds hope, and a legacy that may contain life/fire/energy which would truly be wonderment and a miracle to find as such on an orb that appears to be so very cold!!

I truly have enjoyed the way you have taken this unexplored mass, and given it meaning and possibility of life, and the references to the Gods and Goddesses makes it just that more intriguing!!

A wonderful, expertly crafted write!!!!!!

Best Regards!
Sheila

[Legion]

If there is life there, I hope we will recognize it. Great write. Reminds me of the odes of old. Well crafted.