Wires from Earth

                           [from an unknown extraterrestrial journalist,
                            trans. Philip Thrift]

           I come from a binary star
           to a single sun's blue-hued orb.
           My morphing-suit puts me on par
           with its natives whom I record:

[2008/08/08]
Bright lights and flame draw me today
to dancers and flags and parades.
These earthlings bring hope to my stay
with all lands, all shapes, and all shades.

[2008/08/15]
A quarter moon cycle now spent
(their one moon is now in full light)
I'm witness to many ascend
to platforms wearing medals bright.

[2008/08/22]
As the end of their games drew nigh
I wondered where next I would drift.
I noticed in a place mile-high,
another stage getting a lift.

[2008/08/29]
This one, just like the one before,
was a mix of native color.
Again my expectations soar;
these earthlings now seem much taller.

The next moon-quarter set my gaze,
to a land of ten thousand lakes.
Another stage was being raised—
it's the last journey I would make.

[2008/09/05]
A strange display has drawn to close
a meeting not like the others—
white-faced homogeneous rows,
mere semblance of diverse colors.

           I return to home pleased, but yet,
           while the first stops inspired a lot,
           the last stop has led me to fret
           on peacemaking coming to naught.