Teams to Titan, Saturn’s moon
Regatta crews all fresh from space
The frigid ethane lake gleams black
as boats are lowered into place

Brave astronauts with national flags
line up to pose with upheld fist
Then, grimly gripping oars, salute
to treacly ripples in the mist

They’re under starter’s orders. Hush!
And... bang! They’re off and sculling hard
Supplies of oxygen on full
White spacesuits now all smudged and tarred

Staccato frenzy in the fog
They row engrossed like galley slaves
Then crunch! And splinter, telltale splash
Pale forms engulfed by charcoal waves

Help! SOS! They gasp for breath!
On plastic visors, frozen tears
Bedraggled swimmers wade to shore
and blush to see their grimy smears


© Oliver Wright

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