My short story and poem, for your consideration, for the 2017 Aurora Award

My short story’s called “Shoe Man”, is unanimously (if I may say so myself) loved, short and sweet, and can be read online here over at the July issue of Expanded Horizons.

Here, I’ll post my qualifying poem, originally published in 2016 in Space and Time Magazine, Issue #127 (also nominated for a Rhysling Award):-

The Architect of Bonfires

by Tonya liburd

 

The Architect of Bonfires

Weaves magic to and fro

He knows the art of fire

Makes one for cooking just so.

 

The Architect of Bonfires

Is a “witch doctor”, a Wise Man

And sees the same potential

In a scared, approaching woman…

 

The Architect of Bonfires

Divines her tale without being told

He comforts her with soup –

A remedy of old

 

He admires her midnight skin

Putting his darkness to shame

Marvels at her stark white hair

He knows exactly what’s her fear –

The chaos, the destruction that ensues

When she creates fire out of thin air

 

She comes now requesting aid

And aid he will gladly give

Yet she will return for magical skills

Not just to survive but to thrive, live

 

Suspense, danger,

coming to terms with her magic,

personal tests – all that lies in her future

– but for now, some hearty soup will suit her

Just fine

From the Architect of Bonfires

Filed under: Writing Tagged: 2016, 2017, Aurora Award, Expanded horizons, July 2016, poetry, Shoe Man, short story, space and time magazine, the architect of bonfires