the computer says – we’ve arrived
it’s generally not very talkative, but has been jabbering
for hours now about the pruning of fruit trees
it says – we have reached our journey’s goal

my toes are numb
i climb out of the spaceship
and look around, gathering samples for scientists –
i walk about a room identical to my own
nothing lives for light years all around
there are no curtains
it’s quietly snowing outside
garlands glitter in windows across the street
children push and shove on the sidewalk

nothing but cosmic loneliness and stone