and I wonder which human qualities
have found their way to other planets.
I imagine Fearlessness floating along
the surface of Venus; Endurance sliding
along the icy planes of Uranus. Courageous
touching down on the freshly-fallen diamonds
of Neptune while Adventurous ventures round
and round the rings of Saturn. Phenomenon spends
its dizzying-fast days spinning on Jupiter
as Determination wanders crater-covered Mercury. All in search
of new discoveries. Meanwhile, on Earth,
I wonder if there is any
Humanity to be identified?
Let me know
if you find it.
Erica Abbott (she/her) is a Philadelphia-based poet and writer whose work has previously appeared or is forthcoming in Anti-Heroin Chic, perhappened, Bandit Fiction, Brave Voices Magazine, and other journals. She is the author of Self-Portrait as a Sinking Ship (Toho 2020), her debut poetry chapbook. She volunteers for Button Poetry & Mad Poets Society. Follow her on Twitter @erica_abbott.