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24 February 2021

The NS Poem: Science Fiction

A new poem by George Szirtes.

By George Szirtes

The minister sweats.
There’s nobody in the street
bar some friendly ghosts,

administering
angels, and sundry earthlings.
It’s science fiction

in the suburbs. Now
the aliens have landed
there will be speeches,

fresh flowers, new myths.

George Szirtes is a poet, author and translator. His most recent book is “The Photographer at Sixteen” (MacLehose Press).

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This article appears in the 24 Feb 2021 issue of the New Statesman, Britain unlocks