Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 41 (March 2004). Illustration: “Face” by Leo Lin Alone I drifthearing hissingred lights flickerin a constellationI never wanted to see becoming uniform, coldmy steel collar gathering frostno longer a strugglefor rarefied controlmoon passing my windowin a long clumsy arc repeat the checklistfor the last timethoughts fadingto the Florida sun … Continue reading Steel Can, by D. Nordling
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 41 (March 2004). I never met the man,but not a day passesthat his words do nottouch my soul.A Russian immigrantat the turn of the century,just like my grandfather,stowaways, refugees,immigrants with nothing intheir pockets but dreams.With humility and wisdom,he unveiled the joys andthe sorrows, the terrors andthe wonders that fill … Continue reading For Isaac, by Daniel C. Smith
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 41 (March 2004). Illustration: “The Signal” by Ehrad Radiant planetswhere natives uses black firefor coolish darkness Are you asking mewhere I hide my tentacles?she whispered, smiling. Alien childrenplaying with human bodiesuntil the bell calls. Footprints in concretefrom nowhere to anywherethree toes with sharp claws. Poem © 2004 by Cassie … Continue reading Four SciFaiku, by Cassie
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 40 (December 2003). Illustration: “Warrioress” by Romeo Esparrago "Do you rememberthe yearwe fought the revenant godson Syrtis Major IV?"The old man's infrascanleaked a dripa tricklea single dropdown his lined cheek,passing overthe ancient marks of plasta-sculp.He tilted back the steinand glugged.His after-smackwas plaintive."Those days, they were the ghosts."He turned to … Continue reading Memory Lane, by Nancy Wilcox
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 39 (September 2003). Illustration: “"The Prayer"” by Ehrad 1.1 sailinglightsails blooming brightcatching the sun leaving homeahead be dragons1.2 visitorsfar side of the moona footprint splayed in the dustsix toes and no shoe1.3 meetingtime shattered not bentmeeting yourself on the wayMerging to nothing1.4 bewareyears of starflightingthe end of the universe … Continue reading Four Poems, by Fraser Butterworth
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 39 (September 2003). Illustration: “"In Darkness Light"” by Greg Martin The boyexamines the cube of granitewhich is his world.The boy, the cubeand the great black void around him.He sits on its surfaceand swings his hammer.He starts at the corners,making them less sharp,making them pleasantly rounded.He chisels the edges smooth.The … Continue reading Boy and His Hammer, by Dave Nordling
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 39 (September 2003). Illustration: “"Bugman"” by Patrick Stacy Chitinous mandibles chitteringall six black eyes glitteringhe scuttled into the dingy barand set the she-bugs a-twittering. With pheromones enticinghe looked to them like icing,amazing how your life can changeafter a little gene splicing! At the genetic forge of Duon IIIDNA is … Continue reading Ladies’ Bug, by Robert Cameron Hazelton
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 38 (June 2003). Illustration: “Mechanic” by Robert Castillo Big Tim is a quantum mechanic,he works in that new shop downtown.You don’t have to stall, go on, give him a callif your universe ever breaks down. His gravity’s well and housebroken,no messing with rubbery sheets.His fusion’s red hot -- there’s … Continue reading Quantum Mechanics, by Nancy Wilcox
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 38 (June 2003). Greetings, This is Juki 3.14159(But you can call me Juki Pi),I want to make your world like Jukian Prime;And let me tell you why. The moment Juki 4.2 emerged full-grownFrom Clone-Tank 63,I loved him dearly as my own,As when properly programmed, he would be me. And … Continue reading From a Better World Than Yours, by William Shumay
Originally published in Planet Magazine No. 38 (June 2003). In 1998 the International Boomerang Project launched a balloon equipped to measure the cosmic background radiation caused by the separation of photons from other particles of matter some 300,000 years after the Big Bang. Its findings suggest that the universe is flat, and not curved, as … Continue reading The Big Bang, by Simon Andrewes
