by Dan Campion

“NASA is sending a helicopter to Mars.”
—CNN

The gadget looks like Leonardo’s sketch.
I think he’d smile to see his notion stretch
Its rotors in another planet’s air,
Albeit not with full-scale gunship’s flair.
A chopper up surveying Ares’ lair
Might spy—who knows?—a page of H.G. Wells
Translated for the Martian generals.