Orion Nebula
Alicia Sometimes
Examine closely—as nebulae on a moonless night can mimic a single blurry star. We survey through this telescope as young open stellar hives reveal nurseries, composers creating new work. Nestled amongst the Orion constellation swinging midway from the sword. Swimming fish. So many cultures deciphered its fiery presence possible black hole in its heart In this summer breeze we see a trapezium cluster smouldering scintillation of interstellar clouds—ionized atomic hydrogen sulfur red ribbons of orange, icy blue stencils in space—a collage of uncontained soaring peripheries Inside, on its way to forming planetesimals, its genealogy continuing as we breathe in, watching hazy edges untangling in this nightscape Light-corals inhabit the Milky Way. What it means to be near-by, connected, curious, observing but still so far away
Feature image via Biodiversity Heritage Library