Jupiter's Europa Poem by Harley White

Jupiter's Europa moon
is the smallest of the four
Galilean in rapport
with that scientist in tune

all about the cosmic sphere
given times in which he dwelt
to his astro-views heartfelt
quite a hostile atmosphere.

Also called Jupiter Two
it's sixth closest to the globe
orbiting our solar strobe
that's fifth from Sun in the queue.

Named for mother of the Crete
King Minos and lover of
Greek Zeus, ‘god' who was above,
all deities from elite

lineup of those in old Rome,
by Jove, thunderbolt at hand
to rule sky at his command,
indeed, all the heavens' dome.

At least ‘twas so within myth,
but to the moon to return
of Europa of concern
going ‘round the planet fifth

from great lantern for our world,
a habitat oh so rare
at least as yet we're aware
while through space we're whirled and swirled.

Of silicate it is made,
having water ice for crust,
in liquid form aye a must
for our lively escapade.

Might Europa harbor life
in conceivably a form,
primitive perhaps its norm
of some sort of being rife?

Whether habitable or
not for creatures such as we,
land of opportunity
with its iron-nickel core,

still our interest it piques,
while on earth we flaunt and fume,
strive for domination's loom
with Man's overblown techniques.

May we learn to look afar
into realms of outer space
eyeing also our own face
thus to fathom who we are,

or perhaps thereby to see
what we possibly could be…