Biggest Lottery

The universe waits in line to be human.

They came in all shapes and sizes
from planets big and small
ringed and unringed
visible and invisible

This was
after all
the biggest lottery in the universe.

What a fabulous chance!

A once in an eternity opportunity!

To be human for a lifetime

That's it.
The ultimate prize

To have flesh
To feel
To want
To taste

To walk barefoot in human feet
on grass, water, sand, earth

Who would want such a thing?

Everyone, everywhere.

All creatures who have forgotten to feel

All creatures who have never known how

The queue is long

It extends from one end of the universe to the other.

A poem by Pemba Umoja