THE LIVING UNIVERSE, II

    In all the universe—or if there’s more,
    Throughout the multiverse—there must be life,
    Which is our strongest reason to explore
    The depths of space: the hope that minds are rife.

    It surely cannot be that only we
    On this one world have managed to emerge,
    Given the vastness of our galaxy,
    Could we traverse it to the farthest verge.

    In fact there’s credent reason to suppose
    That creatures from out there have traveled here,
    Perhaps the source from which our race arose,
    Or merely visitors loath to appear.

          What’s popular in science fiction now
          May prove sometime what science will avow.

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