I agree completely with Pungus' comment. The poem is very somber, but after seeming earthbound (for lack of a better term), it springs---no!, unleashes---that final line on the unsuspecting reader. I enjoy subtle science fiction poems---and this is one of the subtlest I have read in a long, long time.
The Fuzzy novels of H. Piper Beam were among favourirte sci-fi of our growing years. And Nicholas Fisk among more recent ones, by recent meaning early 80s. THe double entendre is that Mars is the god of war hence "martian gods," hence harping at both meanings.
Please forgive my delay in replying . . . I am struggling with non-Covid flu right now, from my grandson's kindergarten. I had forgotten about Piper Beam, of whom I had read but whose stories I have not been able to read. And let me say again how much I like your poem. I like to read science fiction poetry online, but yours is superior to many I have read, and I am not just saying that; I really do mean it.
Hope you are feeling better from the flu. H. Piper Beam has many of his works on the Gutenberg Project: an online collection of over 600,000 titles of literary works whose copyrights have already expired: https://www.gutenberg.org/
I agree completely with
I agree completely with Pungus' comment. The poem is very somber, but after seeming earthbound (for lack of a better term), it springs---no!, unleashes---that final line on the unsuspecting reader. I enjoy subtle science fiction poems---and this is one of the subtlest I have read in a long, long time.
Starward
The Fuzzy novels of H. Piper
The Fuzzy novels of H. Piper Beam were among favourirte sci-fi of our growing years. And Nicholas Fisk among more recent ones, by recent meaning early 80s. THe double entendre is that Mars is the god of war hence "martian gods," hence harping at both meanings.
here is poetry that doesn't always conform
galateus, arkayye, arqios,arquious, crypticbard, excalibard, wordweaver
Please forgive my delay in
Please forgive my delay in replying . . . I am struggling with non-Covid flu right now, from my grandson's kindergarten. I had forgotten about Piper Beam, of whom I had read but whose stories I have not been able to read. And let me say again how much I like your poem. I like to read science fiction poetry online, but yours is superior to many I have read, and I am not just saying that; I really do mean it.
Starward
Hope you are feeling better
Hope you are feeling better from the flu. H. Piper Beam has many of his works on the Gutenberg Project: an online collection of over 600,000 titles of literary works whose copyrights have already expired: https://www.gutenberg.org/
here is poetry that doesn't always conform
galateus, arkayye, arqios,arquious, crypticbard, excalibard, wordweaver
Thank you sir, for both the
Thank you sir, for both the good wish for feeling better, and for the information about Beam.
Starward
Even arthritics will snap
Last two lines lends a sense of scify and the thought train that proceeds to twist along.
bananas are the perfect food
for prostitutes
Ands a twisting we will go!
Ands a twisting we will go! Thanks dear Poet.
here is poetry that doesn't always conform
galateus, arkayye, arqios,arquious, crypticbard, excalibard, wordweaver