Ancient Urge

Birds, I have heard
Migrate — hundreds, thousands of miles
They fly —
Little birds

Leaving their nests, familiar skies —
They soar
Crossing continents, around mountains
Through storm and blazing sun

Carried by winds
Driven by some ancient urge —
Unseen and unknown —
To fly on, to carry on

And so do small fish
The mighty elephants
Great herds of cattle
Even tiny ants leave home —

Wandering all alone
Tracing some invisible map
Unaware of the dangers
That claim them
Without notice

And humans too —
Are they not travellers
Like birds
Cattle, and fish

None but trees —
Plants, crops
And grass —
Stay rooted, still

And even they
Rooted, still sway
Bending and scattering —
On winds, through bellies
Of beasts and birds
Sow their kind
Establish far and wide

Why not then
Reach for Mars
The moon — every corner
Of visible
And unseen skies

Risk it all
To establish and stop-over
New earths
New heavens —

And witness new dawns
Rising from the West
Setting in the East