Size / / /

sed revocare gradum superasque evadere ad auras,
hoc opus, hic labor est.

Yesterday the sibyl spoke
at Cumae one hundred mouths
one hundred lips, tunnels, screams,
tongues opened, and we heard

the god's voice shining: the sound
of death in rushing waters
the clouds array forth battle
there's blood in the flight of birds

and promises, promises, promises
the words you dream in ruins.

O Musegetes Hekebolos Mantikos
Phoibos Apollon Parnopios
what plague-born poem is singing
from the arrows of your tongue?

(I dreamed of Sappho first
forgot all after, thirsting
for the poem she would become.
O Muse O Muse O Muse—)

The thirst of Tantalos
to stoop and scoop and never drink
to drink and drink and never slake
with wine or water longing

Yesterday one hundred mouths
one hundred tongues spoke
inescapable Nemesis sounding
from every shadowy cave

with promises, promises, promises
the words you dream in ruins
the downward hellward path, the door
that night and day stands wide—

And are you brave, brave, brave?
And are you brave?




Liz Bourke is a cranky queer person who reads books. She holds a Ph.D in Classics from Trinity College, Dublin. Her first book, Sleeping With Monsters, a collection of reviews and criticism, is published by Aqueduct Press. Find her at her blog, where she's been known to talk about even more books thanks to her Patreon supporters. Or find her at her Twitter. She supports the work of the Irish Refugee Council and the Abortion Rights Campaign.
Current Issue
17 Feb 2025

crocodile, crocodile, may we cross your river?
We have always / been a ghosthouse
In this episode of Strange Horizons at 25, Kat Kourbeti sits down with longtime friend and Seattle Worldcon Poet Laureate Brandon O'Brien, chatting all things speculative poetry, and the impact of markets that have many readers and editors—hey wait, that's us!
The city is no place for a spider.
Wednesday: Rakesfall by Vajra Chandrasekera 
Friday: High Vaultage by Chris and Jen Sugden 
Issue 10 Feb 2025
By: Alexandra Munck
Podcast read by: Claire McNerney
Issue 27 Jan 2025
By: River
Issue 20 Jan 2025
Strange Horizons
By: Michelle Kulwicki
Podcast read by: Emmie Christie
Issue 13 Jan 2025
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By: Samantha Murray
Podcast read by: Jenna Hanchey
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By: E.M. Linden
Podcast read by: Jenna Hanchey
Issue 25 Nov 2024
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