Size / / /

To think, a humble cloud can bust the lamp of Cassiopeta,

a web of smoke can spin Sagittarius into spider.

A thin stalk of a church cross clings to Vulpecula.

An old apartment building houses Pegasus and Equules in its dusty windows.

On Earth, illumination counts for nothing.

The bright heart of Aquarius is skewered by a sliver of sleep.

A man turns on his television and Lacerta and

Andromeda go dark.

Bats sweep out Piscis Austrinus with their wings.

A couple on a park bench kiss Lyra into nothingness.

Not even human dreams are innocent.

They raze Cygnus with worries for the next day.

It takes a stalwart soul to find the light these days,

to go beyond the city and its affectations of brightness,

to pass all houses, their lights blazing such phony suns.

A meadow can do it, a wide expanse of grass dead

to the night and flowers closed up for the evening.

Stand some place, any place, where no trees intervene,

the atmosphere's scrubbed clean, and, even the moon,

full or crescent, bows down its shine to its billion betters.

Clang the triangle. Vega, Deneb and Altair.

Wear Corona Borealis like a halo. Grab the handle of

Arc to Arcturus.

Ride the Dippers. Wear Virgo's diamond in your hair.

Don't worry. The bears won't eat you. Not your body at least.

But your awe's fair game.




John Grey can be reached by email at jgrey10233@aol.com. You can find more of John's work in our archives.
Current Issue
22 Apr 2024

We’d been on holiday at the Shoon Sea only three days when the incident occurred. Dr. Gar had been staying there a few months for medical research and had urged me and my friend Shooshooey to visit.
...
Tu enfiles longuement la chemise des murs,/ tout comme d’autres le font avec la chemise de la mort.
The little monster was not born like a human child, yelling with cold and terror as he left his mother’s womb. He had come to life little by little, on the high, three-legged bench. When his eyes had opened, they met the eyes of the broad-shouldered sculptor, watching them tenderly.
Le petit monstre n’était pas né comme un enfant des hommes, criant de froid et de terreur au sortir du ventre maternel. Il avait pris vie peu à peu, sur la haute selle à trois pieds, et quand ses yeux s’étaient ouverts, ils avaient rencontré ceux du sculpteur aux larges épaules, qui le regardaient tendrement.
We're delighted to welcome Nat Paterson to the blog, to tell us more about his translation of Léopold Chauveau's story 'The Little Monster'/ 'Le Petit Monstre', which appears in our April 2024 issue.
For a long time now you’ve put on the shirt of the walls,/just as others might put on a shroud.
Issue 15 Apr 2024
By: Ana Hurtado
Art by: delila
Issue 8 Apr 2024
Issue 1 Apr 2024
Issue 25 Mar 2024
By: Sammy Lê
Art by: Kim Hu
Issue 18 Mar 2024
Strange Horizons
Issue 11 Mar 2024
Issue 4 Mar 2024
Issue 26 Feb 2024
Issue 19 Feb 2024
Issue 12 Feb 2024
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