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Lillian here, delighted to host today’s Poetics.

I thought today I’d have us all look up. And how better to do that than through a telescope?

In 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope, named after Edwin Hubble, was launched to orbit around the earth. Using Wikipedia, let’s get some perspective on the Hubble:

  • It’s as long as a large school bus.
  • It weighs as much as two adult elephants.
  • It travels around the Earth at about 5 miles per second. That’s as fast as driving a car from the East Coast of the United States to the West Coast in 10 minutes!
  • It takes pictures of planets, stars and galaxies. It’s seen stars born and it’s seen stars die. It’s seen galaxies trillions of miles from earth.

When I see photos from the Hubble, it makes me realize how teeny-tiny each one of us is while on this earth, within our solar system, within all those galaxies beyond ours.

I’ve selected four photos taken by Hubble and ask you to choose 1 for your inspiration. Your poem does not have to be about outer space, the stars, or the Hubble. These are such amazing photos, I suspect they can inspire in numerous ways. Leap out of the photo you choose; or leap into it. How does it make you feel, think, believe? If you didn’t know the image came from the Hubble, what would come to mind looking at it? Let your imagination wander the universe or stay close to home today and we’ll come along for the ride. 

NOTE: You must include the photo with your post and you MUST INCLUDE THE CREDIT that appears under each photo. Copy and paste the photo into your post AND copy and paste the Credit into your post. I wrote to the Hubble Space Agency and received permission for this prompt, provided folks include the credit given below the photo you choose. 

Artist's concept of exoplanet orbiting Fomalhaut

Credit: ESA, NASA and L. Calçada (ESO); ESA/Hubble

A perfect storm of turbulent gases

Credit: ESA/Hubble;  European Space Agency, NASA, and J. Hester (Arizona State University)

The Hourglass Nebula

Credit: ESA/Hubble; Raghvendra Sahai and John Trauger (JPL), the WFPC2 science team, and NASA/ESA 

Extreme star cluster bursts into life in new Hubble image

Credit: ESA/Hubble; NASA, ESA and the Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration

New to dVerse?  Here’s how to join us! 

  • Write a poem as the prompt suggests, and post it to your blog. BE SURE TO INCLUDE THE PHOTO CREDIT. 
  • Click on Mr. Linky below to add your name and enter the direct URL to your poem
  • On your blog, please provide a link back to dVerse. This enables others to enjoy our prompts, multiples our readers and thus the responses to everyone’s poem, including yours.
  • If you promote your poem on social media, please use the tag #dverse poets
  • And most importantly, please do read some of the other responses to the prompt and add a short comment or reaction. Everyone likes to be appreciated! The prompt is “live” for several days – as you’ll notice by the comments you’ll receive – so do stop by another day and read a few of the latecomers too!