Exodus

While we fascinated ourselves
with ourselves
repeating our own reflections
back to us
with slight variations
infinite iterations
the moon
(old trickster)
swung overhead
drew to its gray vault
all those things we
had once known
and loved
and reflected
in wonder and admiration—
trees mountains rivers
herds of caribou blue of ocean
sound of rain giraffes
up they flew
surprised and star-dazzled
all cargoed in moon's
hollow core—
and with full-bellied
sail he charted a course
out of the solar system
leaving behind one of our own
copies of itself
pinned on the sky
in its place;
we haven't noticed
the difference
haven't realized
we've been
robbed