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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!