David Chadwick

First Contact

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbwK84X_WJo

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Pulse, pulse, pulse

They start, start, start

Intermittent at first

Tentative, tentative, tentative

Like fingers feeling their way

From a distant star, star, star

Then becoming more regular

Establishing a rhythm

Taking on form, form, form, form,

Finding the paths

Between the galaxies

Passing the planets

Pulsing patterns

Patterns suggesting meaning

Meaning signifying intelligent design

A sign, a sign, a sign

Of life!

 

I remember exactly where I was when the news broke.

Everyone does they say.

It was the shortest day,

And I was in the garden planting garlic.

 

My wife called from the house. “Come and listen to this!” she said.

It was on the midday bulletin.

It took a while to sink in,

But when it did, you felt all strange and wonderful inside.

 

How amazing it was to know that we are not alone.

But I remember saying at the time,

“So we’ve made contact. Well that’s all very fine,

But it’s what we say next that really matters.”