2 Comments

"this is perhaps, little voice, why we hear so many tales of astronauts becoming Artists, lovers, and philosophers upon their return to our little pale dot. their Desire was a Star toward whom they first flew, and then returned with later." Oh yes, I hear that too. And even just visiting a different country and learning about a different culture can give us new insight and perspective on life.

In Russian, an equivalent to longing is the word "toska." It's very cultural, collective a term. There's an interesting essay on that here: https://www.rbth.com/lifestyle/332132-what-is-toska-russian-despair.

Expand full comment

A lot of us earth creatures would like to remain on this blue sphere than outside our planet. astronauts peer into the Otherness of space. it's how we perceive our knowledge in each other and the greater beyond. Eros makes sense now compared to desire. I once had someone close to whet her tears. it was a possessive relationship. it died like a neutron star. You seek what is elusive. It escapes your distance. Absence makes the heart heavy with familiarity. Cliches clang true like broken bells.

Expand full comment