Afraid of Outer Space
by Valerie Parente

She says she’s afraid
of outer space
but everything she loves
exists in space
through the cosmos and the black
hurtles a place
that she calls home
perfectly made
a perfect planet
for an imperfect race
and all it takes is one doubt
to collapse all progress made
so instead she says she fears
the less familiar state
a void out there
of astronomical stakes.

Maybe what we’re scared of
isn’t the vastness of space
maybe what we’re really scared of
is coming face to face
with the reality that we’re all
floating through a blank slate
where anything could happen
but we get to dictate
how far we go
to make sense of this place
maybe it’s the vastness of the choices
that could be made
that scares us to death
when humans get a say.

Down here we have differences
down here we’re supposed to be safe
but we’re capable of making it dangerous
we’re capable of turning it into a hellscape.
Out there might be vast
but there’s no room for hate
we can only survive it
if we collaborate
working hand in hand
remembering we’re the same.
Out there hope and love
is what governs our fate.
Out there the only thing that matters
is humanity’s greatest strengths.

– Valerie Parente (4-11-2026)