As far as writing goes, my love for speculative fiction came first. I’ve been getting lost in worlds of fantasy and science fiction and horror, both of my own making and those of my favorite artists, for as long as I can remember.
Poetry came next. In more recent years, I have learned (am learning) to walk the line between brevity and the boundlessness of human emotion. Then last year, with much glee, I learned that I could combine the two. I stumbled (happily) into the world of Speculative Poetry.
This year, my first-ever speculative poem is being published alongside the work of some brilliant speculative fiction writers and artists. They Swallowed the Sun: A Black Speculative Fiction Anthology drops this Fall. Here’s everything you need to know about it.
What Is Speculative Poetry?
According to the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA), Speculative Poetry is “an umbrella term encompassing any poem that diverges from reality.” Comprised of a wide range of sub-genres (Fantasy, SciFi, Horror, Steampunk, Mythology, and so much more), it is far-reaching and has existed for centuries. In fact, one of the world’s earliest known pieces of literature, The Epic of Gilgamesh, written around 2500 BCE, is a poem that features elements of speculative fiction. Since then, poets have used the genre to explore endless themes and topics. Among them are timeless icons like Homer and Dante as well as contemporary wordsmiths like Terese Mason Pierre and Brandon O’Brien.
They Swallowed the Sun: A Black Speculative Fiction Anthology
They Swallowed the Sun is a collection of Black Speculative Fiction that asks what happens in worlds “where suns fade, light is scarce, and societies oscillate on the edge of collapse.”
Featuring short stories, poetry, and visual art, the anthology explores an array of Speculative Fiction subgenres, ranging from horror to Afropunk as well as diverse emotions, themes, and yes, worlds both familiar and far away.
The publication is a crowdfunded project, meaning fellow fans of the genre will be able to directly support its production through the Kickstarter platform this Summer. You can back the Kickstarter or opt to be notified when the book drops here.
Goddess Bathed in Starlight
As for what I wrote and submitted to the anthology, my poem, “Goddess Bathed in Starlight”, is a tale in verse about an enamored spacefarer who risks it all to look upon beauty incarnate one last time.
I never would have submitted had it not been for a fellow writer motivating me to do so. The deadline had been fast approaching, and I, ever the self-saboteur, counted myself out prematurely, thinking I didn’t have anything worth sharing.
Almost a year later, I’m wholly grateful to have hit Submit, and I’m even more grateful to the TStS Editorial Team for giving my work a platform.
Khaila A. Gentle 