Martian visitors

Spirit and Opportunity:
two rovers down on Mars
searching for life’s blood on that world
floating beneath the stars.

Five years beyond hope they’ve survived
dust storms and sand dunes deep.
Their wings draw sunlight in to power
those that must never sleep.

They move on six wheels grinding round
their tracks are plain to see
while moving to investigate
whatever there might be.

They’ve found that water once flowed free
before the changes came
induced by forces that compel
for which we have no name.

Watched by their masters here on Earth
steered by young fingers’ touch
they’ve entered craters, risen high
on hills with nothing much.

Sometimes dust-devils whirling by
bring motion to their eyes
and sudden breezes free the dust
that winds blow to the skies.

Their eyes now dimmed by sands of time
look out on emptiness.
No creature moves or structures loom
that would all eyes impress.

So travel on small robots old
surprise us if you can.
Roll on until perhaps you find
a hint of Nature’s plan.