Lillian here, delighted to host Tuesday Poetics at dVerse, the virtual pub for poets around the globe. It’s April 2nd, the second day of NaPoWriMo, National Poetry Writing Month. The challenge many folks take up this month, is to write one poem every day in April. Do consider using this prompt today. If I do say so myself, it’s out of this world!
Today, we’re exploring the universe with John McKaveney, my good friend from San Diego. He has an undergraduate degree in astronomy and astrophysics, and is a practicing attorney. Today, I mainly want to introduce him as a man who owns an amazing telescope and has an incredible knowledge of the stars and solar system. I’m asking you to write a poem (any topic/subject, length, form, etc), inspired by one of his photos below. While I’ve explained the photos in John’s words, you do not need to “describe the photo” or identify it within your poem. HOWEVER, please do give credit to John somewhere before or after your poem, as in Photo by John McKaveney: The Orion Nebula. IE use the bold words in the photo’s description, as identification for the image. Do cut and paste the image into your post.
Photo by John McKaveney: Bright Moon. “The Moon is very important to us in many ways a lot of people don’t realize. Without the Moon and the delicate balance it creates, life on Earth may not have evolved. It also helps protect us from Solar System debris like asteroids (as is evident from all the craters scarring its surface). For over four billion years, the Moon has silently witnessed from afar, the rise and fall of life on our planet several times, as well as the most recent rise of our own species a relatively short time ago. From the earliest humans, to us today, the Moon has mystified and inspired us, and ultimately called us to leave our own cradle to explore the universe.”
Photo by John McKaveney: Orion. “Taken outside the Kulmhotel Gornergrat Observatory. The Observatory is a hotel in Switzerland, located at an altitude of 10,171 feet.”
Photo by John McKaveney: Hotel. “This is the Kulmhotel Gornergrat Observatory, a hotel in Switzerland, located at 10,171 feet.”
Photo by John McKaveney: The Orion Nebula. “This is an active star forming region about 1400 light years away, of condensing gas and dust, illuminated by newly forming stars. Our solar system formed in a region much like this about 5 billion years ago. The photons that were observed when this picture was taken, left the nebula in 624 AD. At that time, Mohamed had just won the Battle of Badr, in Saudi Arabia, the classical period in Europe was ending and the middle ages beginning, the Mayas were just beginning to build their largest pyramids, and Europeans had not yet set foot in North America. Throughout this entire time, those photons of light were traveling through space to be captured to form this photograph, where their journey finally ended.”
So there you have it! Four images to choose from as we step out of this world. Post your poem to Mr. Linky below so all can journey with you.
New to dVerse? Need to be refreshed on the rules? Here’s what to do:
- Write a poem using one of the photos above as your inspiration. There is no set length or form. DO give credit to John McKaveney and the image with its accompanying bold words noted in its caption.
- Post the poem to your blog AND add the exact URL for your poem to Mr. Linky below.
- REMEMBER to either TAG dVerse in your post, or include a link at the end of your poem that leads readers back to dVerse (https://dversepoets.com).
- If you do not TAG or include a link to dVerse at the end of your post, I will gently remind you to do so. After all, this will increase your readership and comments, and others will find dVerse and hopefully join in the fun. If you do not add the TAG or link after my reminder, I will remove your post from Mr. Linky. I do not want to do that! So please do include the TAG or link!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Hello Lilian, really liked the pictures, the moon picture especially was one I loved.
lillian said:
John knows his stuff, is a nice guy and has a fabulous telescope to boot. Will be interesting to see which photos folks choose to work with. I love them all.
Rob Kistner said:
Hi Lil !! …this sounds like a great prompt. I’ll get to work on it today and get something posted. Hope all is well with you and yours, my friend, always appreciate your graciousness.
lillian said:
So good to see you here, Rob! Looking forward to seeing which photo you choose and the angle you take on it. 🙂
Rob Kistner said:
OK Lil, I heard you… 😉 I now have worked ALL FOUR (4) of John McKaveney’s photos into my post. And I explain which particular photo of his directly inspired my Image & Poem. 🙂✌🏼🫶🏼
lillian said:
Thank you thank you! I so appreciate it! You’re a peach who’s out of this world! 🙂
lillian said:
Welcome dVersers! So happy to be tending the pub tonight…this second day of April or NaPoWriMo if you’re in to that. Serving lemon bars with lemoncello spritzes which seem to be a perfect call for approaching spring. Or for those of you suffering through a cold and chilly, maybe rainy day, I do have coffee with amaretto, or with kaluha, or with a shot of Irish whiskey…..or iced tea and lemonade as well.
Looking forward to some out of this world posts today!
Grace said:
Hi Lillian. Thanks for hosting. I love the photos and theme of out of this world A lemon bar with tea is perfect.
lillian said:
Lemon bar and tea coming right up. So glad you like the prompt, Grace. I love your post to it!!! Will be interesting to see the photo choice and the diversity of posts that happen.
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dorahak said:
The photos are heavenly, Lil — My response is rather earthly I’m afraid! Still working on it. How about some iced tea to help me along?!
lillian said:
Iced tea coming right up! Heavenly indeed…..they’re way out there and way up there, that’s for sure! And what beauty they show.
Melissa Lemay said:
Hi Lillian! Hello everyone! I incorporated the out of this world theme into my poem, since all poetry is out of this world. Perhaps a little eccentric since I combined three prompts into one.😬
lillian said:
Good to see you here, Melissa! Three-in-one….a triple play! Considering there are so many prompts out there for NaPoWriMo, I’m sure you won’t be the only one :) Just hope we get lots of participation….I think John will be amazed at what his photos inspire!
Melissa Lemay said:
I hope so. His photos are wonderful.🌌
paeansunplugged said:
Hi Lillian! Lovely pics. Thanks for sharing with us. Coffee with a shot of Irish whiskey sounds good.
lillian said:
Coffee and a shot of Irish whiskey coming right up! Glad you like the photos….interesting to see which one or ones folks write to!
paeansunplugged said:
Thanks a lot. I am sure there will be lot of outstanding poetry.
Good night from me. Will catch up tomorrow.
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Marie Christine said:
Beautiful photos!
lillian said:
So glad you like them! It’s wonderful to see how they inspire such diverse poems. Hope you’ll pick one and post a poem here. 🙂
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rog said:
hi Lillian
hi poets
I have seasick steve on the headphones and pics of the universe
to write poetry about what more does a man need,
catch up when reading i can
rog
ps syill have quadrilles to read i am way behind
lillian said:
Good to see you at the pub! Not to worry: I have yet to read the quadrille posts too. Life gets busy….isn’t that the truth? 🙂
rog said:
too true
lillian said:
Leaving the pub for the evening, folks. BUT the key to the door is under the flower pot – come on in and help yourself to lemon bars and a libation or two. No charge for admission except that you leave a poem as you exit the pub. Be sure to replace the key under the flower pot so others can enter as well. I will return in the morning with coffee in hand, looking forward to reading what I hope will be many more posts! Lillian
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Frank J. Tassone said:
Good Evening, Poets! Thanks for pubtending Tuesday Poetics tonight, Lillian! Love these out of this world images!
Now, how about a burgundy? 😉
lillian said:
Burgandy coming right up, Frank!
rothpoetry said:
Thanks, Lillian for hosting. The universe is most fascinating. Out of this world for sure! I will see what I can do. Love the photos.
lillian said:
Good morning, Dwight. Here with coffee in hand, ready to see the posts left overnight and hoping they’re all out of this world! Glad you enjoyed the photos….it was hard for me to choose just these four for the prompt!
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Truedessa said:
Thanks for sharing the amazing photos. So much to ponder.
lillian said:
So much to ponder…..indeed! When you see these photos it opens up a whole new world! Glad to see you here this morning, Truedessa! Am enjoying my coffee and will now get over to reading posts.
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msjadeli said:
Hello Lillian and All. Way late tonight, but I’m here. Your friend’s photos are so glorious. Thank you for getting his permission to share them for the prompt.
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lillian said:
Good morning! I’m back at the pub with hot coffee in hand…..glad you enjoyed the photos. They are amazing! Enables us to see and entirely new world!
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pvcann said:
Thank you Lillian for these inspiring shots by John, who is to be thanked for taking them and allowing us to use them, wonderful.
lillian said:
He’s been reading the poems and been suitable awed! :) Yes…his photos are amazing! So glad you posted to the prompt.
sanaarizvi said:
Late to the party – I’ll be catching up with reading and commenting tonight.
Loved the prompt, Lillian! I posted for Poetics and for day 4 of Napowrimo 🩷🩷🩷
lillian said:
Good to see you here, Sanaa…..pub is open so no worries about coming in a bit late. Lemon bars still available! 🙂
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Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Had to write a second poem for this prompt… let us see if it can become one poem per day.
lillian said:
The photos are so amazing….I wrote a second also! 🙂
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V. Sparrow said:
Enjoyed this prompt muchly. May be awhile before I can get to read everyone.
lillian said:
So glad you enjoyed the prompt! Nice to see you here.
V. Sparrow said:
Thank you😊
kittysverses said:
Though late to the party, I enjoyed writing to this one. Thank you for hosting, Lillian. 🙂
lillian said:
So glad you enjoyed the prompt! Lots of poems here and so interesting all the different ways folks approached the photos. It’s been fun to read them all.
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memadtwo said:
Lillian–I am truly sorry to have upset you, and I’ve deleted our entire conversation from the comments on my post. I have no problem with you deleting me from Mr. Linky, that’s your perogative, it’s your prompt. It really that wasn’t big a deal to me.–when I said it’s Ok, I meant it and still mean it. As I said to Jane–my own fault. –Kerfe
Stephen J Frankenberry said:
Seems I am late on this one as I had the thought but needed the time to get it for a moment to work … anyway … https://frankenberrysattic.com/2024/04/06/original-hymns-poem/
thesimlux said:
Great post! Can’t wait to visit an observatory near me soon!!