Yaddith Times

How to Navigate Our Universe by Mary Soon Lee

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Combining deep thought with deep feeling, this generously sized collection of speculative verse celebrates space science and all those who have made it possible. Mary Soon Lee has the knack of making complex astronomical ideas not only accessible, but lyrical. History enthusiasts will also find many tributes to pioneers and discoverers -- a notable number of them female -- past and present.

Presented in mostly short, tightly constructed stanzas, these poems have a formal feel while retaining a touch of lightness. Lee is passionate about her topics, and tireless in her ability to ring changes on them. Lucid but never shallow, entertaining but intellectually demanding (I found myself turning to Wikipedia frequently during my reading!) , this collection is highly recommended for all spec poetry lovers -- and hard science folks as well.




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Taurus -- Littrow
unfilled footprints
fifty years deep


-- Ann K. Schwader

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_17

Perseverance
for one clear blue moment
we are go


-- Ann K. Schwader 7/30/20

call sign Chaika
first and highest-flying
she gull


-- Ann K. Schwader

https://tinyurl.com/ydaeperp
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentina_Tereshkova#Vostok_6

lost opportunity
once so sunlit
dust to dust


-- Ann K. Schwader

http://my.earthlink.net/channel/news/article/us?guid=20190212/ed118493-43e4-436a-9c48-c8060c528541

with room
to spare now
moon dust footprints


-- Ann K. Schwader
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_11

Yes, it's a real -- though very new -- thing, thanks to the Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association, and officially proclaimed by the Governor of Minnesota. Find out more here:

https://specpo.wordpress.com/2017/11/02/november-3rd-is-international-speculative-poetry-day/

November 3rd was selected to honor the 60th anniversary of space dog Laika's historic mission aboard Sputnik 2. She was (thank you, Wikipedia) the first animal to orbit our planet -- and also the first Terran female in space:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laika

In honor of International Speculative Poetry Day, the SFPA has put up a special page of poems (and one lovely artwork) remembering Laika. One of them is mine.

https://specpo.wordpress.com/2017/11/03/2017-international-speculative-poetry-day-remembering-laika/

Please go read, enjoy, & remember.

dust
of a waning moon
last footprints


                      -- Ann K. Schwader

                Gene Cernan, last astronaut on the moon, is gone at 82
                http://wapo.st/2jpCsXf

I just got a boarding pass for Mars.

Nope, not the trip – just the boarding pass, for NASA’s InSight lander due to launch in March 2016. All names submitted & approved will be inscribed on a chip which actually is headed to Mars with the lander.

It’s all free, but unfortunately I just found out about this -- & today is the last day to register. If you’re a fellow Mars-o-phile & reading this before 11:59 PM ET, you can go here for all the information.

See you – or your name, at least – on Mars!