We publish poetry: at T.S. Poetry Press, Every Day Poems, and here at Tweetspeak.
Publishers have their focus. Ours? We look for a certain level of technical accomplishment (great language, great rhythm, no “glitches”). But mostly, to our taste, a poem must have 3 essential ingredients: a story (no matter how subtle), emotional impact, and a final line (or two) that makes you go “ah.”
Writing short fiction is a marvelous playground for the poet to develop these essential ingredients, so we encourage you to try it, and we make a point to feature it. Today’s short fiction is by Sara Barkat, a fifteen-year-old who writes sestinas, sonnets, and whatever else she can poetically get her hands on. Do you sense the poetry in her fiction? Can you put her fiction into your poetry?
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An Encounter • set in the universe of Star Trek (The Original Series)
Looking back through the innumerable folders stored on my Padd, in an attempt to go through and organize them into some sort of coherency, I found many documents I had forgotten about. One such was connected to a particularly memorable story, an encounter with a most singular individual. I was on a long, tedious flight, and had exhausted all methods of amusement. Most of the passengers were dozing, it being night now according to the planet we’d left, but I was just passing through on a longer journey, and was depressingly alert.
I stood up to stretch my legs, wandering over to the back of the craft. To my surprise, someone was standing there already, looking out the small viewscreen. The surprising thing was not that he, like myself, had obviously had nothing to divert him; but that he was a Vulcan, quite young, dressed in a Starfleet uniform—medical or scientific I couldn’t tell—and that he was smiling, quietly, as if at some private amusement.
I had met Vulcans before—in general, I found them to be excellent conversationalists, if occasionally coming off as slightly superior.
He turned to look at me, as if only just pulled out of his reverie, though he must have heard me minutes before. “The view really is amazing, isn’t it, ” I remarked.
“Mmmm, ” he agreed. “I find the beauty and complexity of the universe to be fascinating. There are always new things to discover, in the smallest particles and the largest galaxies alike.”
“Exactly. And the fact that you can find patterns and similitude in the most unexpected places.”
We fell silent for a moment then, engaged in our own thoughts, before the Vulcan spoke again. “What brings you this way?”
“To Earth or the window?” I quipped.
“Earth; though I’m sure your reasons for coming to the window would make for a captivating discussion.”
I laughed. “Perhaps! Though I doubt it. I’m visiting family, in fact.”
“Ah.”
“My brother is getting married, and, of course, the whole family had to come—even if we haven’t spoken in years.” I shook my head in annoyance.
My companion was looking at me now, thoughtfully. “Perhaps it will be an occasion to patch up relationships, ” he suggested.
“That’s likely, ” I muttered.
The Vulcan hesitated. When he spoke next, he seemed to be choosing his words carefully. “In my experience of humans, ” he ventured, “you spend much energy on regretting things that happened, or did not happen.”
“Yes, ” I admitted. “You’re right. Yet have you never regretted anything?” I sighed slowly. “Sometimes it takes more than wishing for a thing to be right to make it so.”
In the depths of space, stars—bigger than can be comprehended with the human mind, small enough to cover with a fingernail—slowly slipped past.
“I am familiar with that, ” he said.
Photo by kurtxio, Creative Commons, via Flickr. Short fiction by Sara Barkat.
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Try It
Prompt Option 1. Write a short piece of fiction that involves a single event and a dialog between yourself and someone you admire or wish you could meet.
Prompt Option 2. Find the poetry in Sara’s fiction and put it in a poem of your own. Try to capture a sense of story, no matter how small.
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Buy a year of Every Day Poems, just $5.99— Read a poem a day, become a better poet. In May we’re exploring the theme Swans, Swallows, Phoenix.
Will Willingham says
Sara! So happy for a glimpse into your work. Honestly, I don’t know where to start.
The big/small characterization of space, the depth of your insight into regrets, the odd feeling I get when I consider a person how far into the future still doing the same as we do now — traveling for a family matter, not speaking in years…
And the last line.
Maureen Doallas says
Sara, you have a marvelous way of capturing and sustaining voice in your writing. This one is full of persona. The details you use show such an understanding of characterization and how to create scene and atmosphere.
My favorite line: “I had met Vulcans before….” It’s wonderful what you do with that.
L. L. Barkat says
I could say all the same things. So, consider them said.
But I also noticed the pacing. You have a really good way of extending a moment by inserting action (in this case, meditative action in the context of setting) between dialog. Very powerful, Sara. Made me a little teary-eyed. 🙂
Megan Willome says
Sara, I like that early in the story, you say that Vulcans are excellent conversationalists, and then you prove it by giving us an excellent conversation.
I want more! Gimme, gimme, gimme!