This poem was inspired by one of my favorite science fiction authors, Robert A. Heinlein, and more directly, by his masterpiece, “Stranger in a Strange Land”. While essentially holding fast to the spirit of Heinlein’s novel, I’ve slightly rearranged, and mildly embellished the text to lovingly create this poem. Absent any available detailed descriptions from the author, these accompanying digital images are my interpretations. NOTE: Grok: to thoroughly understand something intuitively or empathically.
Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Envoy Descends” by: rob kistner © 10/31/23
Valentine Michael Smith
was a most intelligent creature
a son
of deep space pioneers
he lived as an alien
on the far frontiers
his ancestry human
he was raised on mars
by planet natives
he looked human
but he was quite tall
and very slender
long arms
long legs
these anomalies
from being raised low-g’s
he thought and felt
quite martian
born traveling to mars
on the starship Envoy
and raised by martians
since orphaned as a boy
he’d never laid eyes
on another earthling
felt his identity circling
Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Lyle Drive Launcher”
by: rob kistner © 10/31/23
brought to earth
by scientists
who knew not
how to grok
smith knew not
how not to grok
and quickly grokked
this madhouse planet
and the corrupt few
who ran it
therefore
he quickly and deeply
understood earth
and its suffering
so thoroughly in fact
it actually became his own
there seemed no buffering
it nearly drove him crazy
in heartfelt concern
val reached out
to spread enlightenment
for this he was despised
the reaction was violent
feared and hated
he was considered a bane
quite completely ungrokked
smith was sadly slain
his efforts futile
his death was brutal
he died as he lived
a stranger
in a strange land
Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Valentine Michael Smith”
by: rob kistner © 10/31/23
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rob kistner © 2023
Poetry at: d’verse
