At the end of last year, I approached a few editors of speculative poetry to recommend five “Best of…” poems of 2012. I asked that the five recommended poems would be written, edited and published by other people, rather than the editors themselves.

Today’s five picks are by Alexa Seidel, a speculative poet and writer who edits for Fantastique Unfettered and Niteblade.  Thank you, Alexa!

 

Alexa’s Recommendations:

* The Vigil by Mike Allen, Goblin Fruit Autumn 2012.

Mike does dark stuff really well, plus this is a horsewoman.

*Qasida of the Ferryman by Sofia Samatar, Goblin Fruit Winter 2012.

I do love a good rhyming poem, and this is a great one, mixing the here and elsewhere, something Sofia really knows how to do.

* Between the Mountain and the Moon  by Rose Lemberg, Strange Horizons.

It is beautiful, the language enchanting, and with every read, there is something new to be found between those lines.

* we come together, we fall apart by Lisa M. Bradley, Stone Telling 7.

There is a great story in this poem, and it pulls you into that story, doesn’t let you go until you’ve read it through, start to finish. And you won’t forget about it either.

* Thousands of Years Ago, I Made This String Skirt by Alex Dally MacFarlane, Stone Telling 8.

Because the string skirt feels so familiar.