# Poetry About Space? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 3, 2004, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poetry-about-space/222482 "2004-01-03T16:46:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mephisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@Mephisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mephisto)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poetry-about-space/222482/1 "2004-01-03T16:46:14Z")
Earlier today, in an online conversation about whether the exploration of Mars was a worthwhile endeavor, I wanted to say something about the powerful, age-old allure of the planets and stars. A reference to a poem (or other beautiful, moving piece of writing) would have been great to throw out there at that point. I searched my memory banks, but the best I could come up with was a couple modern rock songs. Well, there’s nothing wrong with rock-n-roll, but what I was really looking for something a little more classical. Pretentious, even. 🙂 Maybe something by one of the Romantics. Or Shakespeare. Or even some musing about the mystery of the nighttime sky from the ancient world. I know I’ve read such stuff in the past, but I sure can’t come up with anything today. Also, a related question: is there any good modern poetry about space, space exploration, rockets, planets, stars, and the like? I know if anybody can help me with this quest, it’s you. Thanks in advance! Have a great day! ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Matrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/34f0e0/32.png) [@Red\_Matrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Matrix)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poetry-about-space/222482/2 "2004-01-03T18:09:22Z")
I don’t have a good modern poem about space, but I have a short modern poem about 2 bodies in space. WARNING: Borders Erotica (but no explicitives) [The Comet and the Sun](http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewpoetry.asp?AuthorID=12571&id=48382) Part I It has 18 sentences. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poetry-about-space/222482/3 "2004-01-03T18:19:56Z")
I wrote some a few years ago: Space, Like it’s out **there** man. Way, way out there. ---
**Author:** ![Mearl\_Dox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@Mearl\_Dox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mearl_Dox)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poetry-about-space/222482/4 "2004-01-03T18:41:44Z")
The only thing that came immediately to mind was “When I Heard the Learned Astronomer” by Whitman, but I’m not sure that’d be exactly what you’re looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Mephisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@Mephisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mephisto)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poetry-about-space/222482/5 "2004-01-04T19:15:31Z")
Although I had hoped for more responses, I appreciate the ones I got. Thanks, guys! This will be my one and only bump of this thread. If anybody has any more suggestions, I thank you in advance. Have a great day! ---
**Author:** ![aaslatten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@aaslatten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaslatten)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poetry-about-space/222482/6 "2004-01-04T19:33:02Z")
I was thinking of Whitman as well. Also I believe John Milton’s Paradise Lost had quite a few digressions on the planets and stars. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poetry-about-space/222482/7 "2004-01-05T11:38:04Z")
“Clouds appear and bring to men a chance to rest from looking at the moon.” ~Matsuo Basho (1644-1694) ---
**Author:** ![HDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/bb73d2/32.png) [@HDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HDS)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poetry-about-space/222482/8 "2004-01-05T11:47:16Z")
Twinkle, twinkle, little star…😃 ---
**Author:** ![HDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/bb73d2/32.png) [@HDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HDS)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poetry-about-space/222482/9 "2004-01-05T11:51:59Z")
Just kidding. Here is a link to a page with quotes and poems about space and night. [she walks in beauty](http://www.quotegarden.com/night.html) ---
**Author:** ![Weird\_AL\_Einstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c67d28/32.png) [@Weird\_AL\_Einstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weird_AL_Einstein)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poetry-about-space/222482/10 "2004-01-05T14:23:39Z")
No mention of Heinlein’s “Green Hills of Earth”? Tho of course, that’s ultimately really about _Earth_, but still… ---
**Author:** ![Humble\_Servant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/47e85d/32.png) [@Humble\_Servant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Humble_Servant)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poetry-about-space/222482/11 "2004-01-05T16:01:06Z")
This is the one that I thought of straight off–by a fighter pilot, not an astronaut, but about the beauty of space.[ > [@](#): > > Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth > And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;. . . . ]([http://www.geocities.com/everwild7/highflight.html](http://www.geocities.com/everwild7/highflight.html)) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poetry-about-space/222482/12 "2004-01-05T16:04:40Z")
You can pick up any issue of Star\*Line, the magazine of the [Science Fiction Poetry Association](http://www.sfpoetry.com/) and find poems about space and space travel. If you want a list of great SF poetry, check out their [Rhysling Award Winners](http://www.sfpoetry.com/rhyswin.html). I understand they are working on an anniversary anthology that would include all the winners. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poetry-about-space/222482/13 "2004-01-06T03:34:06Z")
I’m going to post “The Green Hills of Earth”, because it wasn’t published as a poem, but as part of a book, so I think it falls under ‘fair use’. If not, mods please nuke this. We pray for one last landing On the globe that gave us birth, Let us rest our eyes on fleecy skies, And the cool green hills of Earth! The arching sky is calling Spacemen back to their trade. All hands! Stand by! Free falling! And the lights below us fade. Out ride the sons of Terra, Far drives the thundering jet, Up leaps the race of Earthmen, Out, far, and onward yet- We’ve tried each spinning space mote And reckoned its true worth: Take us back again to the homes of men On the cool, green hills of Earth. - Robert Heinlein ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poetry-about-space/222482/14 "2004-01-06T04:05:51Z")
I’m not sure this is what you’re looking for, but [Genesis](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0933071248/qid=1073362007/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-1612379-6862211?v=glance&s=books) is an epic poem about the colonization of Mars.