Distant Farewell

  • LONG-FORM, FREE-VERSE, SCI-FI ADVENTURE/LOVE POEM

  • Far-Worlds Corp research space schooner “Thadius”

     
    Distant Farewell

    ~

    “I’ve watched
    golden fire clouds,
    hanging in pale green skies,
    over the azure seas of Toluras

    I’ve seen the copper leaves
    of the parmus fronds
    flashing from indigo mountains
    in the crystal mists of Gemin.

    I have beheld exquisite beauty
    in my rich, full life
    but none so beautiful
    as your eyes tonight”

    this Artheo whispers
    his breath warms
    the tender lobe
    of my eager ear

    he presses his lips
    softly to mine
    with gentle passion
    bids me farewell

    now three hours past
    I linger in the bittersweetness

    I can still taste him

    here I am
    hurtling through space
    standing on the aft deck
    gazing

    reliving the kiss
    a sudden chill
    shocks me sober

    been here, done this
    precisely this
    in every detail

    impossible

    it’s my first time aboard

    a foreboding grips me

    I shiver as I watch
    the jade-sapphire orb
    grow smaller
    less relevant

    it now recedes
    less visible
    through the carbon-Lucite

    zero-g frost
    forms and obscures
    this breathtaking view
    of the lush planet

    our home planet
    Gaia

    a place
    some now on board
    will not again see
    for fifteen years

    if they are
    counted among
    the fortunate
    who do return

    we race
    exceeding light-speed
    toward a distant
    call for help

    unknown destiny
    in uncharted space
    with no idea
    what we will encounter

    the call made it certain
    no good lay ahead

    36959008-29B1-417B-B92B-2DA45555B906

    I am Sephias
    going to Topiarus
    to return
    in a year’s time

    I am distraught

    the anxiety
    of separation

    intense pressure
    permeates the crew
    who go the distance
    to the edge of space
    to answer
    the cry for help

    it is contagious
    I feel this too

    I feel ungrounded
    each time I choose
    to leave my man
    to go on mission

    my soul mate
    Artheo

    our love is deep

    it has withstood
    these essential
    separations

    we understood
    when I joined Far-Worlds
    that separation
    came with the program

    but knowing this
    makes it no easier

    my anxiety
    is heightened further
    given this mission’s
    uncertainty

    at Far-Worlds Corp
    we are involved
    in new-resources
    exploration

    we’re scientists
    not trained spacetroopers

    our expertise
    not military

    this ship
    the Thadius
    is a space schooner
    solar-wind powered

    a research vessel
    not a fast and agile
    battle cruiser

    not suited
    for space combat

    the security force
    we have on board
    trained to defend
    not to attack

    they protect us
    from known threats
    on our journeys
    through known space

    this mission’s different

    the unknown
    makes this dangerous

    the Dextorium
    was an advance ship
    sent to reconnoiter
    9 months ahead

    the Dextorium
    did in fact carry
    a battle-trained
    spacetrooper force

    but it has now
    fallen silent
    for many months

    the green glow
    of the interstellar
    contact indicator orb
    means they’re out there

    but silence
    not a word

    stream

    to take my mind
    off things disturbing
    I drift to Artheo
    to our last kiss

    he presented
    a calm brave face
    at our goodbye

    but I knew better

    now together
    two centuries
    rest assured
    I know my man

    as decorated Primests
    of the Science-Sect Elite
    we are privileged
    with three birthing cycles

    to improve the human strain
    a 40-year
    no-birthing period
    our second
    now nears its end

    soon
    we will enter
    our third
    free-birthing cycle

    we both welcome
    the sabbatical
    of twenty years
    that it affords

    we’ve begotten
    families
    in prior cycles
    and love them both

    we now dream
    of this newest family
    our near future
    holds in store

    this coming family
    is most important
    in our lives
    Artheo’s and mine

    state edicts dictate
    3rd cycle families
    caretake their fosters
    as health declines

    as we move closer
    to our stand down
    and cryogenic
    hibernation

    this new family
    will be our comfort
    as our current life-phase
    draws to a close

    as I reflect
    I am disrupted

    a sudden chaos

    panicked commotion
    on the foredeck

    there is great alarm

    I rush forward
    in time to see
    a startling scene
    begin to unfold

    there
    directly in front
    of our speeding ship
    menacing fields of energy

    they begin to spread
    linking together
    with apparent logic
    forming a grid
    blocking our path

    acting intelligently
    as though a sentient
    living thing

    6FF94A1C-DB1C-4C39-817D-5A5A040E2050

    they are immense
    and they are many
    as they assemble
    into a spherical net
    continually expanding
    as far as one can see
    it is there

    spread far too vast
    to travel around
    their advancing speed
    we cannot outrun

    as we approach
    the pulsing web
    their acceleration
    becomes exponential

    no doubt we’re on
    a collision course

    suddenly
    my senses jolt
    I stagger back
    in shock and awe

    it is now quite clear
    what fate befell
    our advance party
    and it appears others

    they’ve been, well
    they’ve been absorbed
    by this horrific
    electronic death-mesh

    we are defenseless

    we on the Thadius
    can only stare
    frightened
    but spellbound

    the crew’s emotions
    now run the gamut
    tears fill most eyes
    as hell approaches

    then I see more clearly
    in the eerie violet
    sphere of energy
    closing upon us
    tiny multi-color specks

    B0BAAB26-E387-4921-9D3B-3F363F9CACA8

    captured life-energies
    of the Dextorium crew
    and countless others
    that have come before

    their vital essence
    has been consumed
    by this entangled nightmare
    that now besets us

    their images flicker
    in and out of focus
    trapped in the grid
    held fast and hopeless

    empty faces
    of complete surrender
    translucent
    dead eyes
    living ghosts

    this thing is coming
    this host of evil

    terrified
    I feel helpless
    so confused
    and so alone

    its then I rush
    to my solarcomm
    to send a message
    to Artheo

    holding a Droon orb of light
    bravely I begin
    first sharing poetry
    as is our custom

    IMG_8614

    “we have walked quietly hand in hand
    in the emerald meadows of Telma
    sharing its golden angelfruit
    sweet as our stolen kisses

    we’ve heard the haunting call
    of the coral winged Lellurt
    in Droon’s violet skies
    over teal Darpin Bay


    now fate deems we part
    see this Orb of Light
    it is my true heart
    when I am gone
    it will shine on
    sweet Artheo
    it is my love
    eternally”

    “right now,
    I want to hear
    your soothing voice
    my precious love.”

    “I would give the world
    to hear your voice.”

    I am speaking
    in a tone controlled
    yet laced with longing
    and melancholy

    “I love you my dearest
    but something bad
    is happening now
    here where I am”

    “there’s a chance”
    then I must pause
    collect myself
    to start again

    “there is a chance,
    I may not return
    to you again,
    to our sweet life”

    here my voice quavers
    and then it cracks
    as I try to add,
    “or — to our children.”

    grasping for courage
    I go on

    “if this is
    to be my end
    it falls to you
    to raise them now”

    “please let them see
    they’re loved forever
    protect them well
    and keep them safe”

    it’s now a struggle
    to form the words
    but filled with love
    I press on

    “remember my eggs.
    they are safely stored
    at the Off-World Corp’s
    Reproductive Center.”

    “my surrogate
    has been selected
    she is tested
    and bonded pure”

    “you must see
    our new family born
    Zenus and Rennar — born

    please promise me!”

    choking back
    so many emotions
    I now fight
    to conclude the message

    this is the last
    I will ever send
    to my beloved
    Artheo

    these are the last words
    he’ll hear me speak

    moonfall2

    “these children,
    Zenus and Rennar,
    will be the final connection
    between you and I”

    “remember forever
    they are a part
    of each of us
    my darling one”

    “he and she
    will care for you
    and see you through
    your dimming years.”

    “they will love you
    as you’ll love them
    give them my love
    tell them about me.”

    voice faltering badly
    I rise to finish
    and share with Artheo
    my final words

    “god, oh god,
    how I want you
    here in my arms
    my one true love!”

    with that,
    my heart breaks
    as I stare silently
    into the screen

    teardrops streaming
    down my cheeks

    12 hours later
    the message arrives
    on Artheo’s
    commstation screen

    he is gripped
    by disbelief
    at what he sees
    at what he hears

    consumed by horror
    unable to move
    he stands trembling

    frozen by grief

    as he sees
    my message end
    my image flickers
    and then it fades

    Artheo
    falls to his knees
    without sound
    silent for some time

    then
    with a growing mix
    of fear and sorrow
    on his ashen face

    he throws back his head
    thrusts up his arms
    straight and stiff
    fists clenched in anger

    clenched so tightly
    nails
    cut into palms
    and bring forth blood

    bloodied hands
    whitened knuckles
    stab at the stars

    he keens and moans
    then begins to wail

    the guttural
    heart-rending wail
    of a man bereft
    soul-gored
    devastated

    ~ ~ ~

    rob kistner © 2008
    (revision © 2019)

    The artwork above is by: Hera, of Stockholm, Sweden

    __________________

    22 thoughts on “Distant Farewell”

    1. I’ve read this twice now today and I find it very compelling. I’ve never read sci-fi poetry before and I love the way you don’t fill in the blanks about this new universe. Especially the references to the things the speaker and her love have seen.

    2. What an awesome read. I think this is the first sci-fi poem I have ever read and in this format, the story becomes that much more powerful.

      Bravo!

      -Tim

    3. That’s an epic poem, Rob, and I love the way you set the futuristic scene in the first stanza and the beautiful use of colour, and that you only briefly mention space. I like the phrase ‘space schooner solar-wind powered’ and the description of the ominous steely web.

    4. This is intriguing Rob, what I like about the openlink is reading people’s poetry outside of prompts and forms, will get back to you with a proper comment when I have read it again (on my way out for the evening)

    5. This is impressing, to fit an whole epic space poem like this… I like how you flung us right into this telling us how it could be in a most natural way (only hinting on the prolonged life spans and reproduction)… I think sci fi fits so well for poetry… I always try to point at the Epic Poem Aniara by Harry Martinsson … unfortunately the English translation is almost impossible to get.

      1. Thank you Bjorn. I appreciate your kind words. I have written several long-form sci-fi poems. I was not sure if any of the poets that participate in the dVerse prompts wanted to invest in reading sci-fi, much less long form, but I have not been feeling well so I did a couple simple revisions of this piece from my archives, and posted it to see what the reaction might be. I also love to write long-form horror poetry, but I will hold off posting any of that. I have tried the past fouple days to get around to read others, but I have been mostly in bed the past couple days. Gonna try to get around to reading the other posts tomorrow.

    6. This is quite a feat of the imagination Rob, I have just read in one go and it really flows and builds suspense. I was waiting for the happy ending but the one you chose has far more impact. Well done…JIM

      1. A happy ending alone seemed not enough, so I conceieved both a happy and a sad ending. New life, but lost love. I am glad you liked this Jim. Wasn’t sure if the poets who partivipate at dVerse would enjoy SciFi. I am pleased you liked it.

    7. I should have known, brother–both of us tend to be somewhat innovative and audacious. I really enjoyed this space opera–long form Sci Fi poems indeed; with horror poems in the wings. Too bad we did collaborate umpteen years ago. My Cinemagenic form could be adapted to both Sci Fi and Horror. Your first section reminded me of the death scene for Rutger Howard in BLADERUNNER. Your lovely Sci Fi universe, rife with “new” words and places, is incredible. Your epic poem hjas the right stuff for novella or screenplay. Thanks for taking the chance on OLN to test the waters. I caution you though, many poets are so taken aback, overwhelmed by a new form, they find it difficult to comment on it. I experience this all the time with my BLACKTHORNE saga. I’ll get 80 people reading it, but sometimes only like 6 comments. This is not a bitch about the wonderful and reciprocal poets from the dVerse group–it’s just that sometimes a new form/style can go beyond their frame of reference.

      1. Thank you Glenn. I understood that SciFi and long form poetry would likely get avoided by the dVerse community, but thought I’d float one out there. I had considered maybe posting a gothic horror long-form but decided that was too large a leap. Hell, I had Sabio Lentz comment to me a couple weeks ago that my writing poetic fiction made me a weak writer. I have thick skin. I do not take offense to someone not liking something I wrote. But someone insulting my writing “ability” will never have a comment posted on my site again. I’ve written for more than 5 decades. I know how to write.

        ‘Nuff on that. I still enjoy writing within the dVerse poetic frame of reference, and really enjoy reading a number of poets here. Of the 10 or so online prompt sites in which I have participated, my two most favorite online writing prompt communities were Dana Guthrie’s “Poetry Thursdsy” which morphed effectively into “Read Write Poem” – as well as Tess Kincaid’s “Magpie Tales”. Both very open and forward thinking, and encouraged outside the box creativity. More interested in content, and less about the form – not that writing to form isn’t fun. I tried my best to emulate Dana’s and Tess’s “attitude” with my Writer’s Island prompt site. I loved writing to the amazing images Tess would post as prompts. Would love to see an exciting contemporary visual prompt site Like Tess’s surface online again. There probably is one, I just don’t know where it is.

        And yes dude, it would likely have been very interesting to have collaborated years ago when we initially crossed paths. I fell into a period of very poor heart health for several years which severely limited my writing and took me away completely from posting to prompt sites for a number of years. I know you have your own health batlles – but we are still writing my friend! We rage on! Peace my friend! 🙂

        BTW – how do you know how many people read your posts? I’d love to know what that number is on my site.

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