In 1977 two spacecraft were launched on an endless mission into the cosmos. They each carried a gold disc upon which was stored information about Earth in the hope that should any alien life see it they would know they are not alone. This poem imagines a new disc being created. A disc for us.

Our message is not written
in gold to be collected by aliens

It is written
in autumn leaves for children to scatter

Our message is not written
in gold to die in the cosmos

It is written
in honey for bees to be born

Our message is not written
in gold to be fought over by men

It is written
in daffodils for friends to make peace

Our message is not written
in gold to be seen by nobody

It is written
in the vocal chords for everyone to hear

Our message is not written
in gold to be aimed at by asteroids

It is written
in sand for the oceans to reach

Our message is not written
in gold to be lost in space

It is written
in candlelight for the lost to be found

Our message is not written
in gold to be forgotten by history

It is written
in rings to be remembered

Our message is not written
in gold to be swallowed by infinity

It is written
in summer rain for the thirsty to drink

Our message is not written
in gold for spaceships to carry

It is written
in the sunrise for life

for life

for life

for life
to carry on

—

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This poem was written for National Poetry Day 2016. The theme is ‘messages’. What do you think is beautiful about this world? What would you write on a gold disc to tell other people about?