Sharon M. Carter
Spacewalk
When first seen, you think meteor,
or airplane, then realize
the trajectory is too fast—
it’s the Space Station! a solar-panelled
dragonfly bulleting across the night.
Astronauts suit up for spacewalk,
tethered to the mothership,
they float like embryos
in an inky amniotic.
Dark matter quickens around them
and fear their unhitched umbilicals
might tumble them into oblivion.
Eyes shielded against
the latest sunrise, one purpose—
ascend an invisible ladder,
to gain knowledge
one determined rung after another.