The unspeakable vastness
of the unconquerable dark
speaks to our hearts
where no harbour beckons
no port waits
A calling sky lids our lives
it shields, shelters
imprisons us
gravity the jailer to be overthrown
the well to climb out of
hand over hand
Climbing to where the only sounds are
a popping of particles
into matter phase
We will not see stars with our own eyes
nor hear the sounds of space
our travelling world
built of systems noise
ventilation hiss and engine thrum
will seep through our lives
even outside
suit noise and visors will hide
the photons trip
Yet unspeakable vastness
and unconquerable dark
will sink deep into our subconscious
refashioning our very selves
varying what is human
Will we wish to sink once more
into the trap of gravity
or shall we run with the particle streams
out into the dark?
Copyright © 2020 Kim Whysall-Hammond
‘Calling Sky’ was first published by Utopia Science Fiction in the April 2020 issue.