The Southern Indiana Writers’ Group has a new anthology out with a paranormal theme. The title is (because it’s us) PAIR OF NORMAL WHAT?

I have some stories in it, and this poem. It originally appeared in Buck Coulson’s great fanzine, Yandro.

DEMON OZONE
by
Marian Allen

A little girl with ringlets blue
And eyes of deepest gold
Approached the noisesome space canteen
And shivered with the cold.

She pulled a rag of green lamé
About her shoulders thin.
She pushed aside the swinging door
And then the child went in.

What sights are these to greet the eyes
Of one of tender years!
What sounds are these, from ev’ry side,
To fall on tender ears!

The worthless of a hundred worlds
Were crowding ’round the taps
Or seated at the tables dim
With girls upon their laps.

So, in amongst the revelers,
The gold-eyed urchin came
Until she reached a drunken man
Intent upon a game.

His hair had faded to pastel,
His eyes were shot with black.
The infant raised her tiny hand
And touched him on the back.

“Oh, father, dear,” the child then said,
In accents mild and sweet,
“Please come back home. Mamma is ill,
And nothing’s there to eat.”

His eyes filled with repentant tears,
He fell upon his knees.
“And would you have me back?” he cried.
His daughter answered, “Please.”

Oh, keeper of the space canteen,
Dispensing potions wild,
Pray God for grace, and think upon
The little Spaceman’s Child!