Val M. Smith

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

*
rob kistner © 2023

Poetry at: d’verse

 

16 thoughts on “Val M. Smith”

  1. Wonderful. Reads like a lovely ballad, Rob, sad but inevitable when you grok humans — and you showcase Heinlein’s story masterfully. That was the golden age of science fiction. Not sure what’s being written these days apart from the movies.

  2. Alas, we as humans have always despised truthsayers…. it will likely be our doom having faith in something better after our homemade disaster.

  3. Rob this is a wonderful story poem. Sad he died a stranger in a strange land. Earth is filled with strangeness. If only there were leaders who could feel the depth of humanity with compassion

  4. I grok your expressive understanding of both the tome and the situation. You have grokked the message, as your words attest.

    When looked at objectively, truly grokked, our situation is ludicrous.

    1. Yes Melissa, I think we all do at times in our life. As I get older and physical and mental instability enters the picture, that “stranger” stirs all the more.

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