Planetary Spectacle

Fun celebrations of US Independence Day,
Barbeques, music, fireworks galore;
Throngs of citizens, festive and gay,
Enjoying time off, concerts, parties and more.

Television showing cooking, drink concotions,
Inexpensive, enjoyable activities for families;
Financial cares, employment woes forgotten,
Viewing sky spectacles, hearing patriotic homilies.

Yet even as we celebrate, a bigger show is coming,
Many nations are gathering, joining efforts together;
Scientists from around the globe are meeting,
Conferencing, writing papers, taking measures.
Humans, whether Americans or other nationalities,
Will leave our cradle, discover amazing new possibilities!

Author notes

Just read on Spacedaily of gathering international efforts to visit Mars, which prompted this write. It is admittedly more optimistic than real at this point, but there are many international collaborations among space scientists occuring at this time.