The Tuesday Poem: Refeaturing Tim Jones — “The First Artist On Mars”

The First Artist on Mars

Well, the first professional artist

There were scientists who, you know

dabbled

but NASA sent us –

me and two photographers –

to build support for the program.

The best day?

That was in Marineris.

Those canyons are huge

each wall a planet

turned on its side.

I did a power of painting there.

You can see all my work

at the opening. Do come.

Hey, they wanted me to paint propaganda –

you know, ‘our brave scientists at work’ –

but I told them

you’ll get nothing but the truth from me

I just p...