Most people know what poetry is, or at least what it looks like. But what is speculative poetry? In an editorial for Strange Horizons magazine, Mark Rich defines it this way: “in the speculative poem, the poet presents an unreal world as though presenting the real one.” Speculative poetry is the poetic form of speculative fiction, poetry with science fiction and fantasy elements. This can also include elements of horror, hard sci-fi, high fantasy, mythology, robots, aliens, fairytales. There are so many possibilities.

One of the things I try to do with my poetry, is create that unreal world by putting my characters in human situations. One example is a demon who has lost a bet with a human and is now helping them write a book on enchanted stuffed animals. They meet for lunch everyday to work on their book. Another character is an alien who likes to cruise Earth because the atmosphere is easier to fly in than his home planet. And because he likes beef jerky.

I find this genre fun to write in because of how flexible it can be. A lot of people are intimidated by poetry because they think it is very staid and stuffy. Sci-fi and fantasy poetry allows for room to explore, quite literally, whole new worlds. Or bring the aliens to our world to explore. I find the humor in those situations and hope that it comes through in my writing. Poetry does not have to be pretentious. It should be fun. It should make you feel something, whether it makes you laugh, cry, smile because it brings up fond memories, or scares you silly.