And then the final two sections sort of explore the line between the earth-bound and the space-based, in form and possibility. We then move into a section that is primarily in eulogy/remembrance of her father (who apparently worked on/with the Hubble telescope, so that explains, at least in part, the inspiration for this title and theme). The does continue throughout the collection, but is most pronounced at the start.

It opens with a first section that is very much the “what are we, in the massive scheme of space and time?” vibe, with lots of oblique (and some less subtle) references to the cosmic and sci-fi in contemporary media (music and movies and literature). I think, since it’s poetry, I was really anticipating something more symbolic.

Interestingly, I felt like it was unexpectedly exactly as the title indicates. If you are looking for a mix of sci-fi and poetry, this is it. And I’m hoping that, with time, I can start to get a feel for it? So that brings me here, to Life on Mars. Mainly this is because I actually am not sure how to judge “great” versus “less great” poetry, so I rely on other people to tell me. Let me just start by saying that I know I lean towards prize-winning poetry (Brown’s The Tradition was a recent Pulitzer winner I picked up, I read Rankin’s Citizenrecently as well, and I read Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings because I wanted to read something by Harjo and that was the only one my library had). “Just like the life / In which I’m forever a child looking out my window at the night sky / Thinking one day I’ll touch the world with bare hands / Even if it burns.”

Life on mars poetry