Dust,

there was dust everywhere

 

There was sand and grime on every building,  

On the windows,  inside the camp

 

It was hard to tell how much was from the climate

and how much was from time

 

The last transmission was four months ago

it took them that long to reach the base 

 

When they finally found people, huddled in the basement

they were surprised to find them alive, almost cheerful

 

So, they asked questions- but not a word 

how long had they been there,

what happened to the mission,  where were their escape pods?   Silence 

 

One of the older men,  eyes grey and cloudy

stepped forward,  trying to move his parched lips,  not a sound  

instead wrote words on a dry erase board

 

happy to see you 

Something took the ships away

they were very fast  

 

 

 



thanks to BookReader for the title