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A flurry of coronaries in the overnight forecast,
so watch what you're putting in those arteries
and try not to get too stressed out over nothing.

Those dark clouds of fate on the horizon
could mean accident precipitation, so be alert
if you're commuting home, and if you're someone
who works with industrial machinery, well,
don't put any body parts where they shouldn't be.

Our cancer alert remains in effect
for the 1,803rd straight day (since we've been
on the air, in fact): smokers take heed!

And if you happen to be Mrs. Hilda Rigsby,
do not walk down Coralview Avenue at 10:38
this evening. In fact, don't go anywhere near
that street, not even to satisfy your curiosity
as to why you've been warned away
from a place you've never heard of.

Consider this a special gift from our fatecasters to you.
Mrs. Rigsby, we hope you're watching us tonight.

 

Copyright © 2003 Mike Allen

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Mike Allen lives in Roanoke, with his wife Anita, two rambunctious puppies and a cranky old cat. By day, he's a newspaper reporter. In his off-hours, he edits Mythic Delirium, DNA Publications' poetry journal. His poetry and fiction have appeared in Absolute Magnitude, Altair, Weird Tales, and Strange Horizons. He is the author of two poetry collections, Defacing the Moon and the newly-released Petting the Time Shark. His previous publications in Strange Horizons can be found in our Archive. To contact Mike, email hangman@infionline.net.



Mike Allen is president of the Science Fiction Poetry Association and editor of the speculative poetry journal Mythic Delirium. With Roger Dutcher, Mike is also editor of The Alchemy of Stars: Rhysling Award Winners Showcase, which for the first time collects the Rhysling Award-winning poems from 1978 to 2004 in one volume. His newest poetry collection, Disturbing Muses, is out from Prime Books, with a second collection, Strange Wisdoms of the Dead, soon to follow. Mike's poems can also be found in Nebula Awards Showcase 2005, both editions of The 2005 Rhysling Anthology, and the Strange Horizons archives.
Current Issue
10 Feb 2025

The editors for the AfroSurrealism Special invite you to submit fiction, poetry, and nonfiction.
he curls his bicep into ever more and more and more bicep
Hush. He sees through / the static. Softly. It sees him back.
“Please also be reminded of the following prohibited items,” the clerk explains kindly. “No chemicals or toxic substances. No fluids over 1,000 milliliters. No lithium batteries, laptop chargers and power banks, no love, no light, no family, no safety.”
By: Alexandra Munck
Podcast read by: Claire McNerney
In this episode of the Strange Horizons Fiction podcast, Michael Ireland presents Sandrine by Alexandra Munck, read by Claire McNerney. Subscribe to the Strange Horizons podcast: Spotify
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