Goodbye, Cassini

We tracked your telemetry
a billion miles away

those who had wired you
given you birth

crossed fingers you would do
what you were asked to do

and you surprised and did not disappoint
but pointing back towards Earth, took a snapshot.

You saw and smelled and touched for us
the ice, the loneliness, of gas and dust

and nine hours at a time
your streamed data unfurled

the rings and moons of Saturn
inspired and informed our world.

One last spike marked your place in history.
Between Saturn’s cold rings you plunged

to hot oblivion..