Whitman expressed the whole universe in his poetry and in his catalogues. That attitude almost defines what we call American romanticism, or American transcendentalism. I feel particularly close to them, because I am now out in the universe. Iโm in a position to see nature from another point of view, to be outside the earth and see the big picture.
Story MusgraveThe statistics of life out there and the statistics of intelligent beings and advanced civilization is a certainty, the way I look at it. It has not been accepted, because we've been in an anthropocentric era.
Story MusgraveIf we ever start communicating with living creatures from other planets, the number one priority is, how are you going to communicate information? Even between different cultures here on Earth, you get into communication problems.
Story MusgraveIโm not a risk taker. But astronauts are professionals, so you get out on the field and play ball. I tried to take it in stride because thatโs what I had to do to get into space. Thatโs where I belong, and Iโm pretty good at it.
Story MusgravePoetry is its own medium; it's very different than writing prose. Poetry can talk in an imagistic sense; it has particular ways of catching an environment.
Story Musgrave