NVN Solar Eclipse Day: TOTALITY
by Mary Turzillo
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The Sun and the Moon did a courtship dance did a contrary dance nearer come nearer far dance away till the Sun mocked his luna love japing “cold, changeable she” and “you love the earth more than me” and it’s true: she grew fat, she grew thin, he was hot, she was cold Apollo, Diana: stag and the doe till she danced right in front of him close to him, over him taking delicious gold bites of him throwing her skirts quite over him till she blotted him out til the night crickets sang the the birds went to sleep a black handkerchief over the land. She punched a hole in the sky where her lover had been left a necklace of fire, a sparkle of beads a diamond ring for a minute or two: the lovers' bright band the dusk bridal veil dark covered light, cold kissed the gold the ring hung a promise a wedding of midnight and fire.
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Mary Turzillo's Nebula-winner "Mars Is no Place for Children" and her Analog novel An Old-Fashioned Martian Girl were recommended reading on the International Space Station. She has been a finalist on the British SFA, Pushcart, Stoker, Dwarf Stars, and Rhysling ballots. Her poetry collection Lovers & Killers won the 2013 Elgin Award for Best Collection. Her fourth collaboration with Marge Simon, Victims, also won an Elgin. Her latest two books are Cast from Darkness, also with Simon, and Cosmic Cats and Fantastic Furballs. Mary lives in Berea, Ohio, with her scientist-writer husband, Geoffrey Landis. Today’s eclipse is her third such experience.