Why aren’t there more poems about rockets? I think of the shuttle crew up there repairing the Hubble Space Telescope right this minute. How amazing that is for the child of a rocket engineer in the 1950s. My dad spent most of his career just trying to create a rocket that could make it past the atmosphere. My father called home to his family on the world’s first — FIRST! — satellite-bounced phone call (it didn’t go through – network has always been the problem).
I wonder why there are almost no poems about space. Even my favorite science poet, Pattiann Rogers, has never written one that I know of. If anyone knows of a poem about space or missiles or satellites, please send it.
Of course, there is Gregory Corso’s immortal:
Poem Rocket
Be a star-screwer!
Sent to Allen Ginsberg.
Doesn’t quite do it for me.
If we could find enough of them, I think an anthology would be a lot of fun. Maybe it's just my inner rocketkid talking, but space poems, especially for children, seems fresh and appealing as a topic. And broad enough to allow for a lot of interesting work. I'd love to see your space poems for kids, Bob, if you're willing to email me some.
There are a fair amount of space poems written for children. I have a few myself.
I'm not sure whether it's a "space" poem or not, but one of my favorites by Frost is "On Looking Up By Chance at the Constellations," which may qualify.
Bryan, please send them! I love this, that there are actually rocket/space poems out there. Maybe we can get an anthology together someday.
Typos are God’s way of keeping us humble. No editing function I’ve ever found on these comments. 🙂
Ack! Where is the edit function?! I neglected to proofread that, and–naturally!–noticed a typo AFTER posting it!
I actually do have a poem that mentions Russian space-shots and orbiting space garbage! (I agreek, though…we are living in the space-age; there should be more poetry about that sort of thing!)
Mary, I would adore to read them! Please send them. I see from your website that you are eminently qualified for such a creative venture as writing poems that include space and satellites. And I see you have also written a sci-fi novel. Is it available?
I have a number of unpublished satellite and space poems; it’s difficult to find a market for them, at least in my experience. I’m happy to share them, if you’d like to read.
Best,
Mary
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http://www.pantoum.org