Smoky Blue Literary and Arts Magazine #16

Space Hero I will fasten rockets to my feet in order to go high up there, catch asteroids and comets like baseballs, drink solar flares and eat moon pies.

Who fears the black, open universe?

Probably me. Definitely me.

I’m old. I go all the way back.

You’re old, too. We all come from the same, ultimate orgasm. We’re family.

Sister, if it’s cliché to make metaphors of stars I will shut my mouth and look at them, whistle the opening tune from Star Trek.

I forgot how many miles it is from here to the sun, but I’ll head that way now, dream of floating in the hydrogen and helium hot tub. My mom tells me I should pack a lunch because the journey is long and bumpy.

And put on some sunblock. I might burn.

I suppose people will write books about me, sing anthems inspired by my courage, my name known throughout the solar system.

To be totally honest, I’ve shopped for a cape.

I think that would be proper attire for my mission.

I will fly up there, hum a John Williams tune ad infinitum.

James Tyler James Tyler has been published in such journals as Chiron Review, El Portal, Doubly Mad, and others. He earned a BA in English from Austin Peay State University and currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee.