BARBARIAN, by Wade German: A smoke-laced sky is banner to our mirth And sends our god red incense to inhale: The sickly reek of sweat and blood-drenched earth From savage tides of slaughter — spilled entrails, Grim waves of flesh and feces, broken bone — And clouds of flies, aswarm on butchered meat, Are raising […]

YASHUB-GEB, by James Hutchings: Old Yashub-Geb fell out of space the last and greatest of his race. Deep doleful furrows framed his face — his stubborn strength was flagging. His scales were brass that once were gold; his baleful blood ran slow and cold. An ancient story nearly told was Yashub-Geb the dragon. His eyes, […]

THE BULL OF CONFLICT, by Lorna Smithers: I come from battle and conflict With a shield in my hand; Broken is the helmet By the pushing of spears. ‘Poem referring to Gwyddno and Gwyn ap Nudd’ – ‘Black Book of Carmarthen XXXIII.’ On an empty day automata drift Wending suit shapes through the mist. Touchless […]

THE SWORDSWOMAN, by Jessica Salmonson: Sensing a weight of death and gloom observed by shades half-human, upon a steed that snorts at doom there rode the brave swordswoman. Her plume was white, her armor gleamed, the peasants watched her coming, hope brightened in their hearts and dreams: She rides! The brave swordswoman! Her sword was […]

SHADAKAR, by Barry King: Shadakar!  Shadakar!  Can you hear me? Your head, so heavy, so loose upon your neck. Shadakar!  Wake up! Ah, but the liquor has taken you away, Oh, Shadakar, Shadakar the mighty, whose weight of gold, whose thrice-heavy sword, whose swarm of spies, whose stolen life of luxury warms my bed. Time […]