“In the Third Cycle” published

Today, Strange Horizons published my epic poem In the Third Cycle. This is the poem I wrote during the very strange “Ten Days in December,” that resulted in two queer epic fantasy pieces (the other piece is my forthcoming novelette, Held Close in Syllables of Light.)

In many ways, everything creative I’m doing this year flows from the Ten Days in December.

In the Third Cycle is an epic poem about three characters, a mortal man and the two powers he is involved with. It’s not their whole story. The Journeymaker in particular is a central figure in my private mythologies; she’s been there always, though under different names – and sometimes in different worlds. I haven’t yet written any prose about these characters – it feels too close to home.

I’m grateful to Shweta Narayan and Jenn Smith, who read the poem as it emerged, and Peer Dudda and Sam Henderson, who critiqued it when it was finished. I am also grateful to the Rannu fund folks, who thought this poem worthy of the first place in the Poetry Category.

And a bonus – an mp3 recording of me reading the whole thing. The reading is quite rough and lasts 10 minutes, so not for the faint of heart (but yes, you can pause it if you want!)

In the Third Cycle, by Rose Lemberg

If you feel so inclined, I would appreciate comments (on my blog or at the Strange Horizons website).