Space / Race
In northern Tanzania
a stones throw from the equator
two African men sit
in the meagre shade of an acacia tree
watching their skinny cows
standing in the withering heat
chewing the cud
and flicking away the biting flies
with dusty ears
Overhead
in the cold darkness of space
a one hundred million dollar module
packed with sensitive instruments
at the cutting edge of modern technology
disappears off into the vast distances
on a mission to detect feint radio emissions
left over from the big bang
On TV
A rotund American scientist
enthusiastically explains
that it's not so much a scientific mission
as a philosophical one
Since time began, he says
mankind has wanted to know
where we came from
and where we are going
This mission
will help us understand
how the universe began
and how it might end
adding, with a Hollywood smile
but don't worry
it won't end for millions of years yet
Meanwhile
back on the ground
a dusty days trek from the slopes of Kilimanjaro
in the shade of a wilting acacia tree
the two men sit in silence
watching their cows
and remembering their sister
who died at the mission hospital
which didn't have the drugs to save her
more ........