The Needs of the Many

Poem by Colleen Anderson

be thankful the journey has ended  

sure, there were casualties

and yes, I took what I needed

—only what I needed

be thankful I was able to guide

the ship, look out the portals

view the habitat construction

none of this would have happened

had I not farmed judiciously

I was there for unexpected damage

awake through never-ending night

to correct the course

maintain the ship’s systems

spend lonely years thinking

you did plan for redundancy

but not with the regenerator

after all—the needs of the few

you knew the journey took light-years

thousands in which you slept—

humans, animals, embryos

as I planted, gathered, saved the seeds

and wrote new tales

my needs were few

and planetfall guaranteed

until the solar flare

you would not be able to judge

had I not harvested a lung

a kidney, a heart here or there

yes, a few now lack a part

but are alive to see this day

and yes, a couple dozen died

so that I might live

cobbled as I had begun

in this case to serve the needs

of this ship’s inhabitants

the needs of the one outweighed

the needs of the many