I will be in my sixties

when the first signals

from probes to Alpha Centauri

cross the emptiness

and those once hidden there

become known family.

 

Three stars

three sisters

of Sol

would be near

enough to our

machines

to be distinct

added to the photo album

of one time visitations.

 

Before they arrive

some great space telescope

may beat them to

finding worlds in orbit.

Perhaps around the red dwarf

perhaps not.

 

Our Voyagers

already head to the

frontier

the solar wind buffeting

white oval dish-sails,

radioisotope generators

soon to be depleted.

 

But our new spawn

will surpass them

swimming in laser-light,

a swarm of human presence

in uncharted depths

too fast to find anchor

but shouting to the shoreline

“We will be back!”