Final Ride on the Space Elevator

A bridge between land

and the weightless hope

ahead. A clouded journey,

but darker to remain here

where souls scramble inward.

We reached the core

and found it hollow.

No gods or devils waited

for us humans to approach—

to flail with empty questions.

* * *

When I release, untethered,

gravity’s gentle echo

reminds me what I carry.

Stains. Stories. Compact scraps

of Earth’s blue-green abundance.

Everything we could not bend

to fit our minds, we labeled chaos.

Deep greed and lofty ideals

sent us chasing downward—

now up. Are there answers?

* * *

I see promises, if I stop

this rocket, of quick death.

Saturn spins dusty rings.

Europa hides icy seas.

Neptune suffocates.

Goodbye blue marble, boiling

sun, planets, moons, asteroids

and meandering comets.

If I can send a message,

I'll tell you what I find

   * * *

beyond the darkness.