what the phoenix saw

the camera reports another hue
what we can see astonishes the eye
the martian sunset is a shocking blue

on the red planet we observe the new
the stars are brighter in that darker sky
the camera reports another hue

we get to see this from the forward pew
robotic vision can tell us no lie
the martian sunset is a shocking blue

this is astonishing this polar view
we thought a martian heaven dark and high
the camera reports another hue

a vision of this sort we had been due
in tales that ares would soon dignify
the martian sunset is a shocking blue

i urge the journey of a human crew
with all the skill that knowledge can supply
the camera reports another hue
the martian sunset is a shocking blue

the last guardian speaks

we fear the vultures that feast on our words
so hungry for the carrion of lies
circling and circling in the cloudless skies

those are most elegant and nasty birds
they do not heed our anger nor our cries
we fear the vultures that feast on our words

they pose a danger to the milling herds
and we have not the language to apprise
them of the peril there is just surprise
we fear the vultures that feast on our words