The telescope they called 'Big Ear'
caught something strong that August day:
a signal either beamed nearby
or radioed from far away,

perhaps past Sagittarius,
old archer waiting, bow in hand.
Did nature shape this strangest wave?
A comet? Tough to understand.

Suppose the broadcast was for us,
a statement at the speed of light
transmitted from a further world.
Imagine what they sent that night.

Were they declaring peace or war?
Revealing life? Just saying hi?
Or radiating cosmic wisdom?
Or was it that they said goodbye?

The starry possibilities!
More planets, beings much like me,
at least in mind as I stare up
and wonder what we fail to see.