Abyss & Apex : Second Quarter 2006 : At the Children's Pound

After the final war,
we granted immunity
to the survivors.
Adults were neutered,
but something had to be done
with the leftover children.

The eldest were caged,
& the little ones kept in a room
with a thick glass window
for the critical eyes
of prospective parents.

They told us that a knife
used for slicing lemons
cut his umbilical chord.
Dark hair like yours,
we chose him for our own.

His heritage obscure,
you said it didn’t matter,
& taught him tricks
to amuse our friends
as soon as he could walk.

Perhaps to spite you,
I had him schooled
to become a spacer.
When he returned,
a neatly trimmed cadet,
you disapproved.

"Humans," you said,
"should not have access
to the stars."

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Marge Simon freelances as a writer, poet, and illustrator for publications such as Space and Time, Dreams and Nightmares, The Pedestal Magazine, Mythic Delirium, and Tales of the Unanticipated. Her self-illustrated poetry collection, Artist of Antithesis, was a Bram Stoker finalist in 2004. Marge is former president of the Science Fiction Poetry Association. She currently serves as editor of Star*Line . For more information, please visit her website or email her at MSimon6206@aol.com.