Intelligent Life? Where?

Astronomers have found what appears to be a planet

One thousand four hundred light years away

Called Kepler 452b.

What incredible news to convey!

 

If the universe has one hundred billion

Galaxies--give or take a few--

Then astronomers' dreams of encountering other

Living beings just might come true.

 

With a possible seventy trillion stars,

It's very likely we're not alone.

More than a few of these solar systems

Could have what is called a "habitable zone."

 

The orbit of Kepler 452b

Makes a 385-day year

As it circles a G2-type star--

One that's like our own solar sphere.

 

The newly discovered planet--it appears--

Is sixty percent larger than Earth

And was formed 1.5 billion

Years before our planet's birth.

 

If we determine it can't sustain

Life as we know it, chances are

There are other possible planet

Candidates circling another star.

 

What could the other life forms look like?

The creatures from ALIEN, STAR WARS, E.T.?

Are they beyond our imagination,

Or do they resemble you and me?

 

Some say be careful what you ask for;

Other life forms might hurt or annoy us.

Or even more frightful than that,

Other life forms could simply destroy us.

 

That's scary! But consider mankind's destruction

Of our planet Earth, and it's just getting worse.

It might be refreshing to know there's intelligent

Life somewhere in this universe.

 

(7-24-15)