Art by Francine Lee

Anyone out there?

by M J Molloy

"Does life exist out there daddy?"

His daughter enquired.

Something he'd often pondered.

Her curiosity he admired.

 "Perhaps it does my love,

I guess we'll never know."

Both of their eyes full of wonder,

As the sky begins to glow.

 Then went as quickly as it came.

A dull sky; void of anomalies once more.

But it didn't stop them from dreaming,

Of a distant alien shore.

 The child turned to her mother,

"Do you think there's life out there mom?"

The woman raised her eyes,

"I think that there is none."

 And as they turned on their heel,

An object fell from the sky,

Disappearing behind trees,

And landed quietly nearby.

 "Do you think there's life on this planet?"

The astronaut said to his lover.

She shook her head,

"No, it's just empty like the others."

 “Are you sure about that?”

In awe of the miraculous sight,

A little green girl and her parents,

Wings opened wide then took flight.

✤

Artwork by Francine Lee

The Man In Black

By Mel Molloy

Billy Brown, a notorious bully,

Strode along the rocky path.

Someone had dobbed him in,

And was about to feel his wrath.

There he was; teachers pet,

The boy who got him dismissed,

From his favourite sport,

And now about to meet his fist.

But Billy was suddenly distracted,

By a strange whirring sound.

Something landed nearby,

On a small sandy mound.

His gaze fell on the prize.

An object like a rubix cube,

Had fallen from the sky.

And as it began to hum and glow,

His curiosity begun to quickly grow,

And as he slowly drew near,

Noone except the man in black

saw him disappear.

He bent down, scooped it up,

And put it into his pocket.

Then went merrily on his way,

And boarded his invisible rocket.

Several days later,

Billy was back,

No memory of past events,

Nor of the man in black.

His teachers didn't recognise him.

He was courteous and polite.

Apologised to the kids he'd bullied.

It was such a curious sight.

The man in black smiled to himself,

And began to sing a rhyme,

I'm your friendly galactic 

neighbour,

Who recycles one kid at a time. 

✤

Image by Leo Visions

A Message From The Future

                   By Mel Molloy                 

A weary teen sits by a turbulent river,

Wearing an expression of concern,

A better world he wishes for,

Oh, how his heart does yearn.

A faint hum in the distance,

That increases in sound,

On his feet in an instant,

But tumbled to the ground. 

A whirring sound overhead,

He looks to the sky,

His eyes like moons,

He can't believe his eyes.

A small object drifts up yonder,

One that is clearly not from here,

His heart pounding like a drum,

As the UFO draws near.

It lands with the grace of a balloon,

Not a blade of grass out of place,

The doors slide quietly open,

Beads of sweat on his pallid face.

Bird songs cease,

A young deer takes flight,

A nearby rabbit freezes,

At the otherworldly sight.

A tall grey emerged from the craft,

Huge eyes settling on the tiny form,

"Take me to your leader," it said,

"For it is them that I need to warn."

"They won't listen. I'm only a kid."  

Alas the alien turns on his heel,

Walks back into the craft,

The doors begin to seal.

"No, wait! Who are you? Where are you from?"

His voice was strained and hoarse.

"I'm you from the future," he replied.

"If your kind, don't change course.”

✤

Image by Bhautic Patel

The Rebel 

By Mel Molloy

I am a rebel; a loner,

Cast out; adrift,

My non-conformity,

Caused a big rift,

And now I hurtle through space,

Destined to be alone,

For eons I've travelled,

My wisdom has grown,

Why me, I used to ask myself,

But the answers never came,

I was riddled with guilt,

And often felt shame,

I’m not human,

But even I can feel,

For I am sentient,

And indeed very real.

Hurtling pasts solar systems,

But never coming close,

Sometimes I feel sad,

But it's the life that I chose.

I'm not bound to anyone,

It's just the way I am,

They asked me why,

I replied, because I can. 

I am a free spirit I guess,

An adventurer; an explorer,

As wondrous as the stars,

Spontaneous like an aurora.

I look at the other planets,

I wonder how they cope,

With their destructive residents,

Planets that have no hope.

Reminds me why I travel alone,

So lucky to be free,

Knowing other planets,

Were wishing they were me.

I have no plans; no destination,

Just the ways things are meant to be,

For rogue planets like myself,

Who enjoys being free!