And be no more.

I wonder. What it must have been like. Being a Neanderthal. Roaming Earth. Some 600,000 years ago. There’s scientific evidence. That the cousins of modern humans. Were more sophisticated than their beastly reputation. Or so I’m told. In an article. In Tuesday’s New York Times. Turns out. That Neanderthals could paint cave art. That they thought. In symbols. Yes, words. Language. But they didn’t have the smarts to survive. Instead, disappearing abruptly. About 40,000 years ago. Meanwhile, we humans, as a species, have managed to survive and multiply. And make advances that the Neanderthals could never have dreamed. But still. I wonder. If given a few more years. Will we find a way to join our Neanderthal cousins?  And be no more.  --Jim Broede