When I was little, my late summer evenings were often spent on the front porch with my dad. Each of us had a 32-ounce plastic tumbler of my mother’s freshly brewed iced tea, and together, we would watch the events unfolding in our inner-city neighborhood. Our street was noisy and often chaotic, so my attention would usually turn to the silence of the night sky. The vast mystery that we call space seemed so peaceful, so different from the life I knew on planet Earth. Although the city lights frequently obscured the stars, they were still bright enough to wink as I contemplated a world beyond what I could see. My thoughts about space have stayed with me, and this morning, I invite you to join me in exploring the mystery of space in original art and poetry.