Looking Up 

by Chun Yu

Looking up to the moon 
Once upon a time 
We thought of home somewhere 
On the earth, which had been flat  
And returning, always. 

Looking up to the moon 
Now in our time 
We think of the earth 
Beneath us, which has become a globe  
And abandoning, perhaps: 

If we will die in the siege  
Of our own occupying of the earth. 
If we will eject ourselves, away  
To warm up a cold star on heaven’s edge. 

Looking up to the alien land 
Where another home yet to be 

We wonder – 
If we will meet Chang’e, the moon goddess  
On our way away  
Passing by the moon palace where she resides 
And discuss with her the mutation of the consequence of 
Taking the “forbidden substance” – 
Heaven’s elixir of immortality or our own “godly” creations: 
From a temporary loss of home to its permanent elimination. 

Looking up to the earth. 

Author’s note: Chang’e is the Chinese goddess of the moon. In modern times, Chang'e has been the namesake of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program.