Terraformed Earth after the Brin invasion.
still crisp and bright
warms me as I journey
it paints the strange landscape
in a vivid foreign luminescence
since the Brin arrived
placed their electro-sun in orbit
and terraformed earth
this has become a startling alien world
the Brin are a beautiful species
but ruthlessly predatory
most of humanity
has been captured or killed
I am a surviving fugitive
hiding in an ancient fallout shelter
I embarked at midday
senses alive and alert
hoping I would make contact
with other fugitive humans
survivors of the invasion
they exist
I’ve observed evidence
but it is day’s end
the Brin sun is slowly setting
moonlight will soon bathe
this exotic terrain
our moon still orbits
compatible with their terraforming
early shadows fall across my face
a foreboding settles upon me
there are many shadows now
odd shadows
disturbing specters
that disrupt my nights
disquiet my soul
steal my peace
they come unannounced
almost imperceptible
but no time for worry
there is still far to go
yet here I still stand
captivated
by the haunting
yet terrifying beauty
that is our altered planet
I shudder and sober
turn into the evening breeze
and venture onward
immersed in the eerie blue glow
of the now dimming Brin sun
I am eager to move
drawn by the need to reach my shelter
to reach safety
there are other shelters
so I continue my search
for others still alive
as is now my daily routine
which includes hunting for fuel
used to heat and cook
I burn a pulpy Brin plant
which they call Griscalka
now plentiful on earth
I hunt the Masocca
a Brin wild animal
which I discovered is edible
I scrounge for water
unfortunately not plentiful
but it is part of the Brin ecosystem
in this moment
exhausted
feelings of loss sweep over me
clouding briefly my focus
then they waft
I see across the darkening valley
my shelter
my safety
I’m caught
by a thought
our ancient ancestors
built these fallout shelters
to protect human life
but they never imagined
it would be the remaining few
of all humanity
they’d protect
from predatory extraterrestrials
rob kistner © 2019
Brin Primest Elite – male
Brin Queen
Brin Mothership — in earth orbit.
Brin Electro-Sun — in earth orbit.
TO POSSIBLY BE CONTINUED…
This poem was my way of allowing earth, with outside help from the Brin, to strike back and wake we humans up to how we have mistreated our mother Gia. I took my vision of this piece much further in my mind. In the scenario I had imagined, this was several hundred years in the future and there had been a second phase of higher tech shelters built and concealed worldwide, around the year 2100, in response to another wave of significant global conflict, among the people of earth — long before there was even any awareness of the Brin, or that any other extraterrestrials existed. So if the few survivors of the Brin invasion made it to the shelters around the globe — then it would depend on how well the world fared against the Brin. I haven’t yet thought what the number of human survivors might be though. Remember, a number of survivors have been captured and enslaved by the Brin, so there is a potential of more humans escaping into the landscape as well. I would say a total of 20-25% of the world population survived the initial Brin onslaught. Some now imprisoned, some now on the run as fugitives around the globe — not sure right now how those two groups would break down in number. Also, here is a critical point impacting the taking of this story forward. The human communication grid on the earth’s surface is destroyed. However, there is still one communication satellite remaining in orbit, there’s just no way to link to it. Or, might that be painstakingly possible, with major effort by the right faction of fugitives (maybe even some Brin sympathizers)? Hmmmm… One final fact perhaps to consider — the Brin may have enemies out in the universe, capable of space travel. — — Anyway… That is the likely overall situation in which this story could continue?
https://dversepoets.com/2019/09/19/ever-been-close-to-a-whale/
This would make a cool sci-fi story, so many interesting details……I like the line about the “terrifying” beauty of the altered planet. The few humans left will know how the wild animals felt on the brink of extinction in these times.
Glad you liked it Sherry. I enjoy writing SciFi free-verse. I share some of the new ones as I finish them. Some are of such length they are almost a poetic short story. They are all truncated attempts at starting a SciFi novel. I write most of every day, but I get bored very easy if I have worked on one piece for more than a day, maybe 2. I constantly revised pieces, which usually results in a new piece emerging. None of my pieces are ever “finished”, they are all works in progress.
This would make such a great sci-fi story, Rob….the details are all so interesting. I especially like the line about the terrifying beauty of the altered planet. The few humans left would know how our wild animals on the brink of extinction feel in these times. Your link at P.U. doesnt bring us to your page, Rob. You might want to re-link.
I went to the blogroll at PU and clicked my link and it worked fine Sherry. I am #49 (rob kistner).
Interesting poem about another species.
Thank you Tony. This was one of my shortest SciFi free-verse that I’ve ever written. Most ofthem I do not write to respond to a prompt. I write them just because I love writing SciFi.
Well oh my whatever! I do not like this Brin land….Seussical it is not! Well done, my friend. I could not stop reading and read faster and faster to see what was going to happen! Captivating….and hopefully not literally!
Thank you Lillian, very much. And no, the Brin are not nice people. I am glad this pulled you in, and that you enjoyed it… 🙂
If this was a blurb I would have bought the book.
Thank you Carol. I have made numerous attempts over many years, to write a SciFi novel — but I get bored with the piece, and it ends up a long-form free-verse, as I move on to something new. If I ever write my novel I will definitely let you know.
I had to relink too; don’t know what’s up with Mr. Linky today. This Sci-Fi adventure has a much stronger sense of place, than the other (even longer one) that you shared before. It is wonderful, relatable and brimming with fresh imagery and sci-fi speak. Tell me, your illustrations are always so beautiful, and never credited to anyone else. Do you create them your self? Computer graphics was once your forte.
Thank you Glenn. This is, I believe, the 7th SciFi free-verse I have shared over the years. I have written 19, not all of them would it be prudent to share. The images, if not credited, are either something I created, or many I picked up over the years from friends in the CGI world I met through my years with Lucasfilm LTD, or have collected along the way from “free use” sites. I have a huge trove of well over 4,000 images I have accumulated over 29 years. BTW — all my links seem fine when I check them, including my link from Pets United blogroll. I have been on it for years. I am #49.
Such gorgeous graphics– love the detail. Not sure I’m on board with another species terraforming our planet and us hiding out like vermin in fallout shelters, but it is an appealing sci-fi read, Rob.
Thank you Lisa. It was my way of allowing earth, with outside help, to strike back at the human race for how we have treated mother Gia. I took my vision of this piece much further in my mind. Here, take a look Lisa. In the scenario I had imagined, this was several hundred years in the future and there had been a second phase of higher tech shelters built and concealed worldwide, around the year 2100, in response to another wave of significant global conflict, among the people of earth — long before there was even any awareness of the Brin, or that any other extraterrestrials existed. So if the few survivors of the Brin invasion made it to the shelters around the globe — then it would depend on how well the world fared against the Brin. I hadn’t yet thought that number through, but let me give it a thought here. Remember, a number of survivors had been captured and enslaved by the Brin, so there is a potential of more humans escaping into the landscapes. I would say a total of 20-25% of the world population survived the initial Brin onslaught. Some now imprisoned, some now on the run as fugitives around the globe — and the human surface communication grid is destroyed. However, there is still one communication sat in orbit, just no way to link to it. Or, might that be painstakingly possible, with major effort by the right fugitives? Hmmmm… One final fact to consider — the Brin may have enemies out in the universe, capable of space travel.
Enjoyed, Rob.
Thank you Ken… 🙂
Did you name your aliens after David Brin, or is that just a coincidence? The images are so beautiful, but they are so deadly. I love a good sci-fi story, so this was right up my street.
Glad you liked this, and you are a clever girl Sarah. It turned out to be a subtle homage, which actually began subconsciously — but I also liked the word Brin as a name for a malevolent otherworldly species. I found my way to David’s work through the movie Postman.
That’s an epic sci-fi poem, Rob, which had my imagination running riot! That’s an amazing though, an electro-sun in orbit around a terraformed earth! The odd shadows are scary, especially for a lone survivor. The rhyme in the isolated lines ‘I’m caught / by a thought’ is very effective.
Thank you very much Kim, you are most gracious. I am pleased you enjoyed this. Line breaks have always appealed to me as a strong way to drive emotional impact, and bring clarity to my intention behind a piece. My OCD demands that I center my work, and rarely does punctuation or capitalization appeal to me in free-verse. I am certain this is driven by some underlying mild psychosis — but I am too old and set in my ways to worry about it, or to change. I figure, if someone likes my writing, then they accept who I am. I do not write for others — never have, never will. But I enjoy sharing my work. And I appreciate comments. BTW: the electro-sun in this piece provides a special wave length ray that the Brin require, but is not harmful to humans in short duration direct exposure. This would prove an important part of the plot moving forward.
This poem runs smooth Rob, carried me all the way….has that “No country for old men” feel….a blasted landscape, a survivor, danger everywhere!
Thank you Jim, I am pleased it drew you in… 🙂
Oh dear, Rob! I wouldn’t want to live in this post apocalyptic- ET sort of world!
Perish the thought!
Wonderful writing 🙂
Thank you Vivian, and I would not want to be dropped into that storyline either.
This is good!!
Thank you Imelda… 🙂
We all write worlds in poetry, but this takes it a step further. Riveting. I want to know how it all comes out!
Thank you Xan. If you read my comment to Truedessa above, you will understand my thoughts on where this tale would lead next.
I think this is the second sci-fi poem I’ve read of yours. I really enjoyed this one and the photos really bring it all together. I have to say you certainly could make this into a novella. I would def read it.
I wonder how many would be saved in the fall-out shelters? What would the world be like?
Thank you True. In the scenario I had imagined, this was several hundred years in the future and there had been a second phase of higher tech shelters built and concealed worldwide, around the year 2100, in response to another wave of significant global conflict, among the people of earth — long before there was even any awareness of the Brin, or that any other extraterrestrials existed. So if the few survivors of the Brin invasion made it to the shelters around the globe — then it would depend on how well the world fared against the Brin. I hadn’t yet thought that number through, but let me give it a thought here. Remember, a number of survivors had been captured and enslaved by the Brin, so there is a potential of more humans escaping into the landscapes. I would say a total of 20-25% of the world population survived the initial Brin onslaught. Some now imprisoned, some now on the run as fugitives around the globe — and the human surface communication grid is destroyed. However, there is still one communication sat in orbit, just no way to link to it. Or, might that be painstakingly possible, with major effort by the right fugitives? Hmmmm… One final fact to consider — the Brin may have enemies out in the universe, capable of space travel.
OK, there you go True… That is the overall situation in which this story would continue. This could perhaps be a trilogy?
Great imagery on what lies ahead following an ‘end of the world’ kind of landscape. These may come to be true with all the frightening talk of the ‘trade war’ looming to be more serious!
Hank
Thank you Hank, but I hope this never comes to pass.
I love your interesting imagination!
Thank you Dwight. I simply can’t turn it off. It started growing up as an only child in a very challenging situation. My iagination had to work overtime as a matter of coping.
You’ve caught the sense of isolation really well. And wonderful details create the alien landscape.
Thank you Kerfe. I enjoy creating SciFi… 🙂
Rob, you took me to new thoughts and a familiar place at the same time, what a prescient poem, given our predicament re the environment, yet also our vulnerability as a species.
Glad this resonated for you Paul. There is a continuation coming soon.
I’m about as much a sci-fi person as you are a love of sestina–though you wrote this well, poked at my curiosity and set it up for yet another poem. Well done.
Thank you Victoria! I write a poem everyday. I won’t write the sequel to this until I am far enough down the road to not remember anything about writing it. Will need to sweep away any familiarity to it — so the next chapter in this comes from a clear space.
This is such an imaginative reversal of humans transformed into a prey species. Fascinating images and rich ideas for sci fi story poem.
Thank you Georgina. I thought the idea of alien invaders changing our planet’s terrain and ecosystem, thus making us the hunted, in an totally unfamiliar alien world, a world that used to be our world, offered interesting plot possibilities.
I really enjoyed your futuristic look at a possibility for Earth and the human race…those who survive. Your story caught my attention and kept me riveted until the end. Well done!
Gayle ~
Thank you Gayle! 🙂
I wonder how long the worlds of Tolkien, C.S. Lewis George R. R. Martin, etc were in their heads before they committed to a book series… just saying 🙂 I enjoyed this.
Margaret, you put tears in my eyes saying this. I have 4 or 5 pieces I have started that would make incredible fantasy/fiction books. Most have a real good start as a long form free verse work. I just get bored so easy, and insecure, then I rush, and the piece looses power. Because I loose the focus? I need to be patient enough to write when I am hot, and rest when I am not. My ADD makes me great at hyper-focusing on story, detail, plot, action, dislodge — but it makes me impatient. Then I rush and get tired, and the piece looses momentum and its edge. I gotta not rush. This is how I write. I need help staying focused. My ideas are endless.
Well, just commit to 10 – 20 minutes a day, knowing you can change it up if you think of something better. Before you know it, you will have completed more than you think.
I genuinely appreciate your encouragement Margaret, but sadly, I also wrestle with ongoing inner distraction, which sends me off course. Keeping my focus extended is like herding wind, which discourages me and sends me in pursuit of another direction. It’s been the story of my life going on 73 years now. Often wish I had a co-writer who could keep the long term direction to drive a book to completion — but I’m not James Patterson nor Clive Cussler. Perhaps the ultimate fruits of my writing life will be a compilation of hundreds of poems and short stories — born of years of stimulating and satisfying creation. All I am certain of is, as long as my mental faculties remain coherently intact, I will never stop writing. For me that’s simpy not a choice.