Wapiti

Striated sky suggesting
A Jovian atmosphere
As viewed from the underside,

Herds of elk, impossible
On Jupiter, gather in
Snowy mesa grass on Earth.

Consider how much you share
With them, mammal—heart and brains,
Red blood, similar hormones,

Hunger. Desires that take you
By surprise. Exhaustion. Dreams,
Although you don’t think of theirs

And think too much of your own.
And how different you are,
Starting with considering

Sameness, difference as things
To think on, imagining
What an elk’s life must be like.

Close as they are, they could be
Almost aliens, or you,
We should say, almost could be.