2013 Halloween Poetry Reading
edited by Liz Bennefeld

You Can’t Go Back - David C. Kopaska-Merkel photo
You Can’t Go Back
David C. Kopaska-Merkel

On Your Street - Liz Bennefeld photo On Your Street
Liz Bennefeld

Drive On - David C. Kopaska-Merkel photo Drive On
David C. Kopaska-Merkel

October Sunrise - Valerie Bodell photoOctober Sunrise
Valerie Bodell

Storm - David C. Kopaska-Merkel photoStorm
David C. Kopaska-Merkel

Jack-o'-Lantern - Mary Turzillo photoJack-o’-Lantern
Mary Turzillo

After Dark - Liz Bennefeld photoAfter Dark
Liz Bennefeld

The Ghoul at the Door - Geoffrey A. Landis photoThe Ghoul at the Door
Geoffrey A. Landis

Halloween Sky - Liz  Bennefeld photoHalloween Sky
Liz Bennefeld

If you love Halloween poetry, chances are you will love to dress up in adult costumes—PureCostumes.com
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“The Flip-Book Sonata”
by David Kopaska-Merkel
mp3 (328KB)

This poem was begun with free association in 2010. The result seemed like it might mean something, so I tinkered with it a while. The final poem was published in my collection of poetry Luminous Worlds (Dark Regions Press, 2013). dreamsandnightmaresmagazine.blogspot.com
@DavidKM on twitter. Kopaska-Merkel is President of the SFPA.

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“All Souls’ Day”
by Shannon Connor Winward
mp3 (4.2MB)

Shannon Connor Winward is an American author of literary and speculative fiction and poetry. “All Souls' Day” appeared in Jack-O’-Spec: Tales of Halloween and Fantasy (Raven Electrick Ink, 2011), Spec-tacular: Fantasy Favorites by Raven Electrick Ink (2012) and the 2012 Rhysling Anthology, and was read by the author on Write Around Here, the podcast of the Written Remains Writers Guild (recording and effects by Justynn Tyme). New fiction by Shannon Connor Winward is forthcoming in Someone Wicked: A Written Remains Anthology by Smart Rhino Publications. shannonconnorwinward.com

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“Three Haiku for Halloween”
by David L. Summers
mp3 (819KB)

The haiku “Autumn rain quenches” and “Tentacles arise” were first published in Halloween Haiku, edited by Lester Smith (Popcorn Press,2011). The haiku “astronomers seek” was first published in the May 2013 issue of scifaikuest. David Lee Summers is a writer and astronomer who has been known to scare himself with dark visions while working alone on remote mountaintops. You can learn more about his novels, short stories and poems at davidleesummers.wordpress.com

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“Homecoming”
by Adele Gardner
mp3 (3.6MB)

“Homecoming” first appeared in the MindFlights Halloween issue, October 30, 2010, under the poet's previous byline, Lyn C. A. Gardner. The poem was nominated in the long category and reprinted in The 2011 Rhysling Anthology. Under her previous byline, Adele's poetry collection, Dreaming of Days in Astophel, is available from Sam's Dot Publishing. Visit Adele at gardnercastle.com

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“Tasty Treats”
by Dennis M. Lane
mp3 (1.3MB)

This poem was written specifically to celebrate Halloween here on the SFPA site. This year Dennis has been concentrating on his novels; but his most recent collection, The Poring Dark, (which contains 24 science fiction poems, 12 short stories, and 24 flash fictions), can still be found in e-book and paperback formats at The Terran Dream Archive.

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“You Are My Sunshine”
by F. J. Bergmann
mp3 (2MB)

“You Are My Sunshine” first appeared in Phantom Kangaroo. Music by Fred W. Bergmann. More information at fibitz.com

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“Cold Life”
by Mary Turzillo
mp3 (1.7MB)

“Cold Life” will appear in my upcoming collaboration with Marge Simon, Such Sweet Poison. I enjoy wandering historic Lake View Cemetery, where occasionally I catch a fleeting glimpse of someone not of this world. My webpage: maryturzillo.com

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“Tritena: All Hallows Eve”
by Geoffrey A. Landis
mp3 (815KB)

A tritena is like a quarter-scale version of a sestina. The poem, not previously published, was written at the Ohio Poetry Day celebration in October of 2012. Geoffrey A. Landis is known for his award-winning science fiction, but also writes poetry, which has won the Rhysling and Dwarf Stars awards. He had a PhD. in physics, and works at NASA Glenn Research Center. More information can be found on his web page: geoffreylandis.com/poetry.html

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“Remembering Halloween”
by Liz Bennefeld
mp3 (1.2MB)

“Remembering Halloween,” which makes its first appearance here, was written in 2013. I almost titled it “Selective Memory,” but that's too close to my mother’s most recent book, Selective Memories. Childhood was an odd conglomeration of disparate experiences that didn't really fit into a framework. I've recently retired from freelance writing and editing, and the household is still struggling with the lack of externally imposed structure. You can find out more about me and my ongoing work at about.me/quietspaces

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Previous Halloween Readings

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006


Thanks to the SFPA members who have contributed their poetry and art to this page. All recordings and images are copyrighted by their respective authors and used by permission.

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