While I was Away

Free verse ... future times????

While I Was Away

Initially the project’s aim was to discern

Existence of another deep space world

The maths had placed the target point

Through a theoretical wormhole gateway

Fittingly named the Ship of Theseus

Control gave the order for systems go

Hurtling my spacecraft into outer space

In a clinically poignant textbook launch

I had accepted all high potential risks

On my one man near impossible mission

But attraction of exceptional adventure

Dismissed any claim I had on trepidations

My psyche trebled with various possibilities

Arriving where space and time were bent

I sent a final goodbye signal back to base

And spun headlong into an intergalactic net

Awareness of multi-neurological sensations

Engaged a ‘cosmique raison d'etre’ moment

A split second black then explosion into light

Had brought me to an awesome destination

The ship’s scientific instruments and sensors

Began recording data into the memory banks

Though my main attention had been drawn

To a singular flashing red light-emitting diode

This solar system I have appeared to find

Bore strange resemblance to the one I left

One average sized star with orbiting planets

The third sphere from the sun intriguing most

That panel caution has now exposed itself

The explanation being one of instant journey

For I had only moved forward standing still

From present to five thousand years ahead

This dark clouded globe viewed in close orbit

Shows no clear signs of any living creatures

But geospatial data proved shattered structures

Of an ancient large-scale populace in all lands

A slow tremulous realisation filled my soul

Was this the world I had first once departed

If this be true what had been its final fate

For radiation levels traced were extremely high

As I resigned myself to be left in an isolation

From my helmet earpiece a call tone sounded

A strange voice asked for my identification

And I was told to follow them to Mars

Copyright @ Phillozofee

Reviews

[Vivian Fisk]

Oh, science fiction, the best of all written endeavors...
Beautifully done. I LOVED how you tantalized with the blinking LED light, and then finally revealed the information it gave--an unintended launch through a wormhole of time, not space. How sad, how dreadfully sad this was, as I experienced with the writer first the intrigue and then the dawning realization of what had happened, the shattered structures and the high level of radiation even so far into the future, and the inevitability of accepting the fate offered by whomever was telling him to follow them to Mars.

Now, I know I'm not telling you what you don't already know, I'm just telling you in detail exactly how it affected me. Strongly.

[Phill Oz O'fee]

Glad you enjoyed my imaginations - or - could it be part of my premonitions - thanks for your review my friend :-)

[Neville]

This needs a sequel ASAP you can't just up and off for Mars without so much as a bye or leave like that...it just aint fair........ Am not usually a sci fi guy but this one had me gripped....... and just for the record... who's shirt do ya wear?...... All Good Things, Neville

[Ardra]

Sounds like a sci- fi movie... very detailed imagination.. :)
Mmm earth in future... Sounds scary isn't it... when we live like there is no tomorrow...

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Literary beauty in a sci-fi allegorical poem...so well-written Phill. Mesmerizing from beginning to end...realistic and believable context and frame of reference. A cosmic journey presented with eloquence, lovely verses and flow, great imagery and fluid symmetry. A warning? A lesson? A look into our future? Hopefully, ‘simply’ a poet’s superb deep time-space odyssey....

[Chris Shaw]

You have a wonderful imagination and I very much enjoyed your venture into space. Quite an epic write. I do so admire anyone who can write lengthy poems. I usually run out of steam after four stanzas at tops. This is a clever write finding yourself back where you started but 5000 years into the future. Yep, we would have decimated our planet years before that and that is a terribly sad thing. Next stop Mars. Choice of language impressive. Excellent detail. Thank you Phill

[jacob erin-cilberto]

we always think that life is better on the other side of the fence, the grass greener...and also that life on another planet will also be better...but no matter how often or where we start over, eventually who we are will make things start to look the same...life parallels itself...and us with it.
fascinating allegory here...

j.