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Editor's Note/Nota del Editor: This poem was written in English by a poet who writes in both Spanish and English, and translated into Spanish by another poet who speaks both Spanish and English. Este poema fue escrito en inglés por un poeta que escribe en español e inglés, y se tradujo al español por otro poeta que habla español e inglés.

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The Harrowing

The painful stigmata did not let me drive for long.
I asked Adam to take my place
while I tasted the sights of the barren country.

A bird made of bone, solemn and dead,
flew by
the impatient red skies,
reaching into the scorching sun
and burning.

I poked my face out the window.
The winds of sin
whispered in my ear,
melting thus the skin of my face:
“The dead don’t come back…
never come back…”

The country lingers on
as I listen to its winds one last time.
After three days of driving,
I resurrect.

Desgarrador

El doloroso estigma no me permitió conducir.
Le pedí a Adán que tomara mi lugar para yo poder catar la vista de un campo estéril.

Un ave de hueso, solemne y muerta, pasó volando
por los impacientes cielos rojos hacia un sol abrasador
que la consumió.

Saqué la cara por la ventana.
Vientos pecaminosos
susurraron en mi oído,
y se derritió la piel de mi rostro.

«Los muertos no retornan…
nunca retornan…»

El campo permanece
mientras escucho los vientos por última vez.
Después de conducir tres días, resucito.



Gabriel Ascencio is a Mexican student and writer. He mostly focuses on texts written in Spanish, which can be found at Colectivo Letras & Poesía under his former pseudonym "Dr. Asenjo," and at Revista Extrañas Noches and Letralia.
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9 May 2022

The star flickered. Then, just for an instant, the flicker lasted a bit too long. Had the star disappeared, or had his tears obscured his view?
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Podcast: 9 May Poetry 
In this episode of the Strange Horizons podcast, editor Ciro Faienza presents the poetry of the 9 May issue.
Issue 2 May 2022
By: Eric Wang
By: Sara S. Messenger
Podcast read by: Ciro Faienza
Podcast read by: Sara S. Messenger
Issue 18 Apr 2022
By: Blaize Kelly Strothers
By: Ken Haponek
Podcast read by: Blaize Kelly Strothers
Podcast read by: Ken Haponek
Podcast read by: Ciro Faienza
Issue 11 Apr 2022
Issue 4 Apr 2022
Issue 28 Mar 2022
Issue 21 Mar 2022
By: Devin Miller
Art by: Alex Pernau
Podcast read by: Courtney Floyd
Issue 14 Mar 2022
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Issue 7 Mar 2022
Strange Horizons
28 Feb 2022
We would like stories that are joyous, horrific, hopeful, despondent, powerful and subtle. Write something that will take our breath away, make us yell and cry. Write unapologetically in your local patois and basilects in space; make references to local events and memes to your heart’s content. Write something that makes you laugh and cry. Indulge in all the hallmarks of your heritage that you find yourself yearning for in speculative literature, but know that we will not judge you based on your authenticity as a Southeast Asian. 
Issue 28 Feb 2022
Strange Horizons
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