Among Many

The sun may be our treasure, but it's common.

Among many like it, it's but the closest one.

Nor is earth a diamond in a galaxy of stone.

There are planets everywhere; in that, we're not alone,

But in a great family of planets, we know only one with life

And several possible reasons why.

Though many planets form, forming life may be hard,

Or the universe crawls with cells, but not gathered like we are.

Perhaps it is intelligence that is rare, an accident, by chance barred,

But it might just be too expensive to travel the stars.