SCIFAIKUEST AUGUST 2023
ONLINE EDITION
TWIN SUNS BY JOHN REINHART
EDITORIAL
Happy Anniversary!
As our regular Readers know, August is Scifaikuest’s anniversary, and we try to give you our very best issues with the most amazing poetry, articles and artwork.
Speaking of artwork, our Door is “Twin Suns” by John Reinhart.
We have an interesting article, An Aversion to Counting Syllables by Roxanne Barbour.
The Featured Poet section, usually reserved for the PRINT edition, has now become a regular part of our ONLINE version as well, and our Featured Poet this time is Lee Hudspeth. I’m sure you will enjoy the poetry he has to offer!
All of the wonderful material you find in this issue is multiplied in the PRINT edition, so if you don’t subscribe, please check out the PRINT edition in our store at: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/scifaikuest
Scifaikuest finally has its own ISBN!!! Please inform your local book stores and library that they are now able to ORDER SCIFAIKUEST!!!
You can always find us here, at Hiraeth Books at:
https://www.hiraethsffh.com/home-1
If you don’t have a subscription to our PRINT edition, they are available at:
https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/scifaikuest
And, if you would like to join the select group of contributors by submitting your poetry, artwork or article, you can find our guidelines at:
https://www.hiraethsffh.com/scifaikuest
Pssst! Looking for something to read? Check out t.santitoro’s newest offering, Those Who Die, “a story of tragedy, danger and moral decline, a Frankenstein-esque, careful-what-you-wish-for tale of creating that which threatens to destroy one's very existence”, at:
https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/those-who-die-by-t-santitoro
You can order t.santitoro's novella, Adopted Child, at:
https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/adopted-child-by-t-santitoro
You can also get a copy of her vampire/western novelette, The Legend of Trey Valentine, at: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/legend-of-trey-valentine-by-teri-santitoro
A huge Scifaikuest Welcome to our newest Contributors: Sarah Cannavo, Robert Fleming and Shelli Jankowski-Smith
an anniversary apart
the star-skiff’s cat
sharing my berth
-sakyu-
SCIFAIKU
odd sensor readings…
asteroid crater shifts
revealing an eye
Stephen C. Curro
*
solar flare aftermath
a mass grave
of androids
Stephen C. Curro
*
lipstick
made from stardust
envy of the party
Stephen C. Curro
*
sentimentary
the geologist finds
a memory card
Tyler McIntosh
*
study abroad
my passport returned
covered in slime
Tyler McIntosh
*
moons rising
at both ends
of the pond
Shelli Jankowski-Smith
*
underground
the richness of
our implosion
Shelli Jankowski-Smith
*
the northern lights
shifting south
with mint juleps
Shelli Jankowski-Smith
*
Mars
retirement villages
system wars survivors
Roxanne Barbour
*
snaring
personal thoughts
additions to database
Roxanne Barbour
*
the best minds
left behind
Earth
Roxanne Barbour
*
glowing faces
change from happy to sad
radioactive
Guy Belleranti
*
traditions ossified
lectures recorded
by professors long dead
school spirits revived
Herb Kauderer
*
catering to the clientele
the robot’s dentist
stocking stainless steel floss
& diamond-tipped drills
Herb Kauderer
*
water premium
laundry day in space
crank up the sonic washers
reaching for the earplugs
Herb Kauderer
*
fighting writer’s block
completely unaware of
Martian invasion
Gabriel Smithwilson
*
reunited
with our forebears
paradox
semi
*
soft landing
how our minds
were slowly wiped
semi
*
singing lullabies
during a lightning storm
rescue mission
semi
*
"Devourer of Helios"
pregnant dragon
eating sun
keeping babies warm
Matthew Wilson
*
empire state building
honeymooners on the roof top
Godzilla King Kong
Robert Fleming
*
cyborg's funeral
the remains are buried in
the scrapyard
Ngo Binh Anh Khoa
*
SENRYU
aliens avoid
laundromats on Saturn
they leave dirty rings
Guy Belleranti
*
HORRORKU
Conduit
the medium writhes
unknown syllables
wrenched from her throat
Sarah Cannavo
*
cracked mirror
I shudder to think
what came through
Sarah Cannavo
*
winter chill
a sudden phone call from
my late mother
Ngo Binh Anh Khoa
*
TANKA
interlude on Mars
low-gravity dancing
competition
travelling to Earth
adjusting to gravity
Roxanne Barbour
*
rehabilitation
educational instruction
understanding space wars
politicians alongside
veterans
Roxanne Barbour
*
SCI(NA)KU TANKA
In the Royal Garden
delighted
dragons daintily
devouring delicious dandelions
despite destructive
dentition
Lauren McBride
*
OTHER FORMS (including: Sijo, Fibonacci, Cinquain, Minutes, Diminuendo, Ghazals,Threesomes, Brick, etc.)
ACROSTIC
Stranded on a Strange World
Cautiously approaching lights
In the distance to get help.
Totally alone here after
Yesterday's deadly shuttle crash.
Lauren McBride
*
FIBONACCI
when
they
ask how
I can be
so calm and serene
while werewolves prowl neighborhood streets
I let out a growl
and bare teeth,
then pounce
and
eat
Guy Belleranti
*
SATURNE BINARY
Occultation by a Derby Hat
the
woman
ahead wears
a globe-sized hat
me -
now
a moon swaying
from side to
side to
see
Lauren McBride
*
SATURNE BINARY
We Should Run!
what
does NOT
make sense is
opening the
door
when
closet monsters
want to kill
all that
breathes
Lauren McBride
*
ARTICLE
An Aversion to Counting Syllables by Roxanne Barbour
A hay(na)ku sonnet comprises five hay(na)ku stanzas (of the three-line form: 1 word / 2 words / 3 words, or reverse) with the last stanza compressed into a couplet (2 lines of three words each), in order to satisfy the sonnet requirement of fourteen lines.
This type of sonnet is considered a minimalistic form.
I do not like to count syllables because there are so many variations/disagreements stemming from language, accent, and such.
However, I love the possible speculative nature of minimalistic poetry, so I converted the hay(na)ku sonnet into a sci(na)ku sonnet, to appease myself. We also have the sci(na)ku tanka, which I will discuss later.
To summarize, a sci(na)ku sonnet has the form:
- Scifaiku (6 words over 3 lines: 1 word / 2 words / 3 words , or reverse)
- Scifaiku
- Scifaiku
- Scifaiku
- Couplet (2 lines of 3 words each)
A personal example of a sci(na)ku scifaiku sonnet:
Flinch
flinch
a reaction
meant to signal
twitch
a signal
meant to discourage
glancing
down left
discouraging further discussion
discourse
future integration
bringing worlds together
series of meetings
ignoring past negatives
Now, from an expert in the form, Vince Gotera (speculative poet; editor of Star*Line, etc) gives us:
9/11 plus 12
Wingless
sparrows fell
from ashen skies.
Ghosts
loomed from
fog of ash.
Twelve years later
still entangled:
Afghanistan.
Bin Laden dead.
Hourglass sand
slipping
us downslope: ash
inferno downfall empire.
This sonnet was reprinted in Hay(na)ku 15, a commemorative 15th year Anniversary Anthology edited by Eileen R. Tabios.
‘The hay(na)ku sonnet is Vince Gotera`s invention, made up of five hay(na)ku stanzas, with the last one compressed into a couplet (3 words per line) in order to get the sonnet requirement of 14 lines. This poem`s title comes from its first publication in 13,’ as written in Hay(na)ku 15, p. 64.
Since many variations of Hay(na)ku, Sci(na)ku continue to be created, `Eileen Tabios has a comprehensive (but inevitably incomplete) list available at https://eileenrtabios.com/haynaku/haynaku-variations.’
There we find the definition of a Hay(na)ku / sci(na)ku tanka sonnet:
Fourteen (14) lines of the form:
Couplet (2 lines of 3 words each)
Tanka (1 word / 2 words / 3 words / 2 words / 1 word), or ( 3 words / 2 words / 1 word / 2 words / 3 words)
Tanka (1 word / 2 words / 3 words / 2 words / 1 word), or ( 3 words / 2 words / 1 word / 2 words / 3 words)
Couplet (2 lines of 3 words each)
And here`s a try:
Flash
flash of light
awakening planted seedlings
seedlings
on Mars
experiencing temperature challenges
humans understanding
extremes
gardening challenges encouraging
interspecies cooperation
extremes
planet variables
considered scientific milestones
seedlings growing remarkably
light emission welcomed
*
FEATURED POET Lee Hudspeth
running downhill...
out in the Oort cloud
a comet breaks free
*
a mason jar
of fireflies...
pocket universe
*
nav tech—
praying that all the subroutines
are perfect
*
between stars we dream in light-years
*
cosmic inflation
the quintessential
“aha” moment
*
between raindrops
countless quantum kingdoms
rise and fall
*
aliens
lighting up a pulsar—
Fermi paradox
*
Saturn outpost—
no birdsong
in the diamond rain
*
first probe
of a black hole...
message in a bottle
*
autumn Venus
just past the horizon
still tugging on me
*
zero-dimensional space
where nothing
is everything
*
clearing my head
of cobwebs—
Sting
*
Saturn sans rings...
they attacked
from above the ecliptic
*
time machine I would unread her diary
*
soft sounds of the ship...
waiting for the meds to kick in
cryosleep
*
particle accelerator did we just create a black h
*
nuclear winter—
the talking heads
not talking
*
pale blue dot
a prologue
as we reach for the stars
*
mood stabilizer
for an android...
all zeroes
*
dandelion seeds so many multiverses
*
INTERVIEW WITH FEATURED POET
Lee Hudspeth
How long have you been writing poetry?
I remember working on my high school newspaper, realizing that it was like assembling a puzzle comprised of pieces that my classmates and I created ourselves. It was invigorating. Since then, I’ve been fascinated with inventing stories and the process of creativity. I didn’t become a creative writer immediately after college, but I was always writing in some capacity. For example, as an entrepreneur I wrote courseware about how to use PCs and I taught that curriculum to business clients. I was also the co-author of ten nonfiction books about information technology. A few years ago, I set out on a “second act” that included creative writing, especially poetry.
Did you begin writing haiku before you branched out to scifaiku?
Yes, I did write haiku before I discovered scifaiku. I started out not knowing much about the form of haiku. To educate myself, I read online articles and then I read several classic haiku guidebooks; for example, Haiku: A Poet’s Guide by Lee Gurga, and The Haiku Handbook by William J. Higginson and Penny Harter. I was also reading as much contemporary haiku as I could, both in journals and anthologies.
How did you learn about scifaiku?
I remember seeing science fiction themed haiku on Twitter and that intrigued me. I had already found good publication sources for modern English haiku and senryu, but simply wasn’t aware of other genres of haiku like scifaiku, etc. Around that time, I discovered The Haiku Pea Podcast’s episode “Scifaiku: A Workshop with Deborah P Kolodji” and it provided an excellent framework for writing scifaiku.
Where did you learn to write scifaiku?
I kept reading scifaiku wherever I could find it. Then I would apply the techniques I had learned from the books and the podcast episode I mentioned earlier, with a focus on sci-fi and fantasy themes that resonate for me: cosmology, astronomy, philosophy, and physics.
Do you write poetry other than genre poetry? If so, what kind?
In addition to haiku, scifaiku, and haiku split sequences, I write free verse and rhymed verse. I’ve also dabbled with structured forms like villanelles. I hope to write some haibun this year.
Whose poetry has influenced you the most?
Two contemporary haiku anthologies I’ve found to be inspiring and influential are Haiku in English: The First Hundred Years edited by Jim Kacian, Philip Rowland, and Allan Burns, and The Haiku Anthology edited by Cor van den Heuvel. In addition to the many timeless, beautiful haiku presented in these reference books, the editors’ comments in the Forewords and Introductions are very informative.
Who is your favorite poet?
I’m currently enjoying the collections of Emily Dickinson and T. S. Eliot. For haiku, I can’t select one favorite poet, but I always find inspiration by reading (and re-reading) the work of the poets included in the haiku anthologies I mentioned earlier, as well as the haiku and scifaiku published in contemporary haiku journals.
What/who is your main inspiration?
Writing haiku involves taking the time to keenly observe moments that occur in the world around us, which could be nature, human civilization, or the intersection of the two. Being out in nature can inspire a fully formed haiku or a fragment of an idea, which I’ll jot down on my phone or on paper. I also take pictures that I can refer to later. Memories of childhood and other past experiences are great sources of inspiration. We also observe (and create) worlds in our imagination. Since I was a young boy I’ve loved science fiction short stories, novels, TV shows, and films; I’m sure that material plays a role in the inspiration for my scifaiku.
What poetry magazines do you read/contribute to?
In addition to Scifaikuest, I am honored to have my work (haiku and other forms) appear recently or forthcoming in Akitsu Quarterly, Autumn Moon Haiku Journal, tsuri-dōrō, Presence, Five Fleas, Poetry Pea Journal, Prune Juice, The Heron’s Nest, Acorn, Front Porch Review, Anti-Heroin Chic, and Star*Line, among other journals. My work has also appeared in several haiku anthologies, including The Red Moon Anthology.
Bio
Lee Hudspeth is a Touchstone nominated poet. His debut, full-length poetry book Incandescent Visions was self-published in 2019. Since then, his poetry has appeared in numerous journals and several anthologies. You can find out more about Lee at his author website www.leehudspeth.com.
*
FAVORITE POEM by editor t.santitoro
Occultation by a Derby Hat
the
woman
ahead wears
a globe-sized hat
me -
now
a moon swaying
from side to
side to
see
By Lauren McBride
What a perfect picture this poem captures! Well done, Lauren!
*
WHO?
Sarah Cannavo: When I'm writing I often want to do anything but. When I'm not writing, all I want to do is write. I believe that while there's sometimes light to be found in darkness, shadows can't exist without light to cast them in the first place, and oftentimes what isn't said can haunt far longer than what is. Despite living in south Jersey I have yet to see the Jersey Devil, but I always keep an eye out
*
Stephen Curro hails from Windsor, Colorado. Along with Scifaikuest, his short fiction and poetry has appeared in The Fifth Di... and Daily Science Fiction, among other venues. His sci-fi novelette The Spark is also available through Hiraeth Publishing. In addition to speculative fiction and poetry, Stephen writes educational materials for the nonprofit Taproot Guru. When he isn't writing, he works as a high school paraprofessional. When he isn't working, he enjoys scuba diving and plotting to trick his dad into watching Lord of the Rings. You can keep up with his shenanigans at www.stephenccurro.com
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Robert Fleming lives in Lewes, DE. Published in United States, Canada, England, Ireland and Australia. Member of the Rehoboth Beach, Eastern Shore, and Horror Writer’s Association. 2022 winner of San Gabriel Valley CA broadside-1 poem, 2021 winner of Best of Mad Swirl poetry and twice nominated for Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. Follow Robert at Log in or sign up to view
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Lee Hudspeth is a poet living in Southern California. His debut, full-length poetry book Incandescent Visions was self-published in 2019. Since then, his poetry has appeared in numerous online and print journals. He has recently become interested in the scifaiku form.
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Shelli Jankowski-Smith lives on Boston’s North Shore, where she works as a Reiki healer, Tarot/ tea-leaf reader, and educator. She has served as the town’s Poet Laureate since 2018. Shelli spends regular time visiting and camping in her native Michiana (southwest Michigan/ northwest Indiana), and on Maine’s Mount Desert Island. A few of Shelli’s recent haiku publications include Trash Panda Haiku (a journal for the poetic expression of life in the Anthropocene), Eastern Structures, and Tsuri-doro. Her poems have also appeared in such anthologies as “Pluto: New Horizons for a Lost Horizon” (ed. Richard Grossinger, North Atlantic Books), and she is co-editor of the literary anthology “In My Life: Encounters with the Beatles” (Fromm International Pub.).
*
Herb Kauderer lives in a windstorm where his sighs cannot be heard.
*
Lauren McBride finds inspiration in faith, family, nature, science and membership in the SFPA. Nominated for the Best of the Net, Rhysling and Dwarf Stars Awards, her poetry has appeared in dozens of publications including Asimov's, Dreams & Nightmares, and Fantasy & Science Fiction. She enjoys swimming, gardening, baking, reading, writing and knitting scarves for our troops.
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Tyler McIntosh was born and raised where the mountains meet the valley to the south of Jackson, Wyoming. He is an environmental scientist, skier, and map-lover now based out of Boulder, Colorado.
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Ngo Binh Anh Khoa is a teacher of English in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. In his free time, he enjoys daydreaming and writing dark verses for entertainment. His poems have appeared in Scifaikuest, Weirdbook, Star*Line, Spectral Realms and other venues.
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semi aka Terrie Leigh Relf aka The Boortean Ambassador to Haura lives by the beach in San Diego. In addition to being on staff at Hiraeth Publishing and Tales from the Moonlit Path, she is a life and writing coach and teaches English at National University. You can learn more about her at the following websites: terrieleighrelf.com;
tlrelf.wordpress.com; tlrelfreikipractitioner.wordpress.com.
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Gabriel Smithwilson is finally getting around to watching Stranger Things, between writing haiku and scifaiku, and submitting them to various publications across the infinite multiverse.
