The following poem was first published in issue 20 “Change” of Consilience. Makemake (pronounced mah-key-mah-key) is a dwarf planet located in the Kuiper Belt. Discovered in 2005, Makemake takes roughly 306 Earth years to orbit the sun. Given the dwarf planet’s extreme distance from the Earth, we currently know very little about it. Makemake is probably cold, barren, rocky, and dark. In this poem, I chronicle some of the important events in human history that happened in the ‘year’ before Makemake was discovered. Time and perception are relative. While likely very little happened to Makemake between 1699 and 2005, on the human scale, society changed dramatically, from revolutions to wars to new inventions. How much will change for humans during the next ‘year’ of Makemake’s life?

In the farthest reaches of our sun

the Kuiper Belt in spinning motion.

Inclining at twenty-nine degrees

the dwarf planet Makemake.

An orbit of 300 years

skirting interstellar frontiers.

History passes restlessly

under patient Makemake.

The year is 1699

nations ruled by royal bloodline.

Enlightenment for the bourgeoisie

under watchful Makemake.

Ships sail the ocean wide

steady Polaris as their guide.

Economies built on slavery

under cosmic Makemake.

Land is raked for furs and goods

forests felled for choice hardwoods.

Continents feel oh so tiny

under open Makemake.

Evolution, revolutions

nations’ mores devolution.

Debaucherous revelry

under silent Makemake.

War after war after war after war

more people killed than ever before.

People forget their history

under rocky Makemake.

Nations rise and nations fall

dictators cannot hold the wall.

The era of democracy

under lonely Makemake.

Slaves released when bonds are broken

Rulers finally hear their plea

the oppressed have firmly spoken.

under cratered Makemake.

Signals through the air are cast

then into space, forever last.

Received by those we can’t foresee

under listening Makemake.

Species hunted to their end

the natural order man offends.

Pruning branches from the tree

under shadowed Makemake.

Atomic bomb dropped on Japan

the nuclear age is now at hand.

Human beings killed ruthlessly

under icy Makemake.

Rockets leave Earth’s safe cocoon

humans landed on the moon.

From gravity’s shackles man is free

under spinning Makemake.

Wayward planes to towers crash

in the desert armies clash.

Lives disregarded casually

under distant Makemake.

In 2005, first discovered

the reddish planet’s face uncovered.

So begins another year

what will you see, Make dear?