Woman Astronaut by Edie Meade

The long blonde hair of Flight Engineer Karen Nyberg

flows upward in microgravity, swaying, seaweed-like

onboard the International Space Station.

And maybe I overthink these things, but why

of all questions, does the woman astronaut answer

the one about washing her hair?

She pulls water meticulously through her tresses, stresses

how precious is each bauble pearled, captured by the system

to be used, again and again.

---

Edie Meade is a writer, artist, and mother of four in Huntington, West Virginia. She is passionate about literacy and collects books like they’re going out of style. Say hi on Twitter @ediemeade or https://ediemeade.com/