I wrote my first speculative poems in the sixth grade at P.S. 156 in Laurelton, NY while studying with the wonderful Mrs. Sylvia Parver. I had read Animal Farm in the 4th grade, 1984 in the 5th grade an was granted permission by my evolved parents to read Brave New World in the 6th grade. Alice in Wonderland was also an influence on the second of my poems as it incorporated the language of Jabberwocky. But the very first verse I remember was about post apocalyptic love:
We'll run, and find a sacred place
where I will kiss your burnt-off face
and you will touch my non existent lips
as the bomb continues to rip
this doomed world
I've written speculative verse ever since, though my speculative verse didn't find a home for itself until the 80s and then not again for 20 years.
the primoridal verse, the first verse, the poetry of possibilities. Our earliest recorded literature is speculative poetry:Gilgamesh, Ramayana, The Iliad and Odyssey, and Beowulf for example.
Speculative poetry’s engagements include: aliens, alternate history, cryptids, cyberfunk, cyberpunk, dystopia, fairytales, fabulism, fantasy, folklore, futurism, horror, magic, monsters, mythology, occult, paranormal, post-apocalyptic, robots, science fiction, shifters, slipstream, solar punk, space opera, steamfunk, steampunk, superheroes, supernatural, sword and sorcery, sword and soul, time-travel, and weird. All poetic forms and scifaiku are welcome.
To fulfill my commitment to SERVE VERSE, I created a speculative poetry reading series. Every other week the poetry of possibilities is presented for your enjoyment and delight. The poets answer your questions and talk about their work.
The schedule for 2021 includes:
John W. Sexton 1/3/21
Wendy Low 1/17/21
LindaAnn LoSchiavo 1/31/21
féi hernandez 2/14/21
Brandon O’Brien 2/28/21
Jacqueline Johnson 3/14/21
Terese Mason Pierre 3/28/21
Jennifer Crow 4/11/21
You can find out more at http://www.speculaitvepoetry.com
Now I get to edit an anthology of speculative poetry! NOMBONO (Zulu for visionary) will be my first and the first of two for 2021! https://sundressblog.com/2021/01/04/2020-anthology-pitch-contest-selection-announced
My second will be an issue of Eye to the Telescope on the sea.
https://eyetothetelescope.com/about.html
Akua Lezli Hope
Rhysling Eligible Poems first Published in 2020
Short Poems
Face the Final Curtain p.2
Paradigm Shift p.3
“unvisible moons” p.4
“shapeshifters dance” p.4
“shapeshifters party” p.4
As Yemayaah p.5
5 Times More p.6
"something she ate" p.7
“crooked" p.7
"I did not plant” p.7
Luno p.8
Watch p.9
My Dead Friend’s Daughter p.10
Aretha Orbits Us p.11
Ignorance, My Prophylactic p.12
“stone bridge” p.13
“newlyweds” p.13
Long Poems
Arrivant p.15
Igbo Landing p.17
Rhysling Eligible Poems (pdf)
DownloadCopyright © 2021 AKUA LEZLI HOPE - All Rights Reserved.