Letter to the Universe

by Elizabeth Soule

Hello!
Can you hear me?
How do I sound?

A mechanical messenger despatched
out there
has sent us back
the music of Jupiter.

Sadly
it sounds like every science fiction soundtrack
since the birth of radio.

True
it held the phthalo blue of whale song
the antique silver of fish-scales
the blackness of a cold volcano

but it lacked the cracked and angry red
of a squawking macaw
the brassy boldness of a sunflower

I missed the pink of a baby’s smile
the delicious green of wet grass
the acidity of apple-skin
and the gentle pewter of rain.

All these I would share
if anyone can hear.

Copyright © 2020 Elizabeth Soule