You are the universe (literally)

by Cassie Connor

The astronauts are showing us the universe again
clearer and more defined than ever before
it’s enough to make grown men weep
it’s enough to frighten my friend who I showed at the jazz bar

Don’t get me wrong, I love nasa
but I feel strongly the need to marvel equally at our humanity
to be equally struck by the flesh and bones which hold us

What is the home of our bodies if not the home of the universe itself?
what is a body if not stardust turned to consciousness?

Amidst collisions of rocks and gas and fire
you were born
you with your favourite song
and your hopes and dreams
you with your bad jokes
and pasta carbonara recipe

Yes, the mountains are holy
but have you seen the way that wounds heal?
have you seen the ways that we dance and run and twirl?
have you marvelled at the heart that beats for you
every single minute of your life?

Don’t worry Nasa,
I love this starry night
as I love the freckles on our knees

And I love the the sun as it rises and sets
every morning and every night
just as I am working on loving the ways I shift
from the darkness to the bright

What I know is that the possibilities are endless
there are as many as 1 trillion possible synapses
within your brain alone
and here we are, on this planet
109 times smaller than our sun
at home in our milky way, who is
700 billion times bigger than the sun
and our universe has billions more galaxies

I know it feels like it’s always going to be this way
I know our fate can feel so hard and immovable
but the fabric of our existence is, literally:

Infinite,
ever evolving,
radiant.

You are the universe (literally)

you are welcome to use/republish this poem with credit :)