Note: The poetic style is a reinvention of an old formal style, the lanturne, into a new form called a saturne binary.

A saturne binary (satbi) joins two saturnes, a speculative variation of lanturnes.  Poems are centered with 1,2,3,4,1 syllables per line suggesting the shape of a lanturne or Saturn with its rings. In a satbi, the second poem is reversed. For more information, see “Saturnes: A Speculative Variation of Lanturnes,” Scifaikuest August, 2021, print edition.

When the Martian Wind Blows

the

only

signs of wind

dust  in the air

no

pond

rippled with waves

no leaves tossed

by a

breeze

This Rhysling nominated poem first appeared in Scifaikuest, August 2021, print.

*

There it Goes!

our

perfect

zero-G

ceremony . . .

stops

short

when he fumbles

and “drops” my

wedding

ring

This poem first appeared in Star*Line 45.1, winter 2022.

*

Cleaning Cosmic Clutter

space

sweepers

– magnetic

exteriors – – –

huge

maws

remote controlled

fleet keeping

orbits

safe

This poem first appeared in Scifaikuest, August 2021, print.

*

First Day Among Humans

when

he heard

a mom say

“time for baby’s

change”

a

young shapeshifter

changed too    screams

still haunt

him

This poem first appeared in Scifaikuest, August 2021, online.

*

My New Fur Coat

stuck

hiding

from snapping

fangs till the moon

sets

wait!

are these teeth marks?

healing fast

under

fur

This poem first appeared in Scifaikuest, August 2021, print.

Lauren McBride finds inspiration in faith, family, nature, science, and membership in the SFPA. Nominated for the Best of the Net, Rhysling, and Dwarf Stars Awards, her poetry has appeared in dozens of publications including Asimov's, Fantasy & Science Fiction, and Dreams & Nightmares. She enjoys swimming, gardening, baking, reading, writing, and knitting scarves for our troops.