Marie Brennan
@swantower.bsky.social
Author of the Memoirs of Lady Trent. Also one half of M.A. Carrick. She/her.
Pinned
Marie Brennan
@swantower.bsky.social
· Jan 7
Okay, this is a thread for U.S. folks, but also anybody facing political woes at home. I'm pinning this to my profile as an irregularly updated thread for advice and links on how to take action/take care of yourself. Scroll through it any time you need reminders (that's what I'll be doing myself).
Reposted by Marie Brennan
On the 10th day of #12DaysOfPoetry, I return to “wind through a long-forgotten outpost,” published by @penumbricmag.bsky.social in 2023, and demand of the world a day for when it’s neither pertinent nor applicable.
January 3, 2026 at 9:53 PM
On the 10th day of #12DaysOfPoetry, I return to “wind through a long-forgotten outpost,” published by @penumbricmag.bsky.social in 2023, and demand of the world a day for when it’s neither pertinent nor applicable.
Reposted by Marie Brennan
#12DaysofPoetry Day 10: “Gods from Machine” in @psalteryandlyre.bsky.social. A summery poem to beat the cold this week. Also *checks notes* another grief poem…? I think I’m sensing a theme.
psalteryandlyre.org/2024/12/02/g...
psalteryandlyre.org/2024/12/02/g...
Gods from Machine
by Eleanor Ball
psalteryandlyre.org
January 3, 2026 at 5:00 PM
#12DaysofPoetry Day 10: “Gods from Machine” in @psalteryandlyre.bsky.social. A summery poem to beat the cold this week. Also *checks notes* another grief poem…? I think I’m sensing a theme.
psalteryandlyre.org/2024/12/02/g...
psalteryandlyre.org/2024/12/02/g...
Reposted by Marie Brennan
#12DaysofPoetry Day 10 (in which I get silly):
ten pipers piping
I think I can handle that
if they're piping hot
ten pipers piping
I think I can handle that
if they're piping hot
January 3, 2026 at 3:20 PM
#12DaysofPoetry Day 10 (in which I get silly):
ten pipers piping
I think I can handle that
if they're piping hot
ten pipers piping
I think I can handle that
if they're piping hot
Reposted by Marie Brennan
My Day 9 poem title, "Story Sits in Places," pays tribute to Keith Basso's anthropology classic, Wisdom Sits in Places, as it's about mythology being inscribed upon the landscape. Also published by @omgjulia.bsky.social in Worlds of Possibility! #12DaysOfPoetry
www.swantower.com/writing/stor...
www.swantower.com/writing/stor...
Story Sits in Places - Swan Tower
by Marie Brennan A giant bound in stone, that distant peak; an ever-sleeping woman curves these hills; the tears of parted lovers feed this creek. From every place remembered history spills, a landsca...
www.swantower.com
January 2, 2026 at 7:21 PM
My Day 9 poem title, "Story Sits in Places," pays tribute to Keith Basso's anthropology classic, Wisdom Sits in Places, as it's about mythology being inscribed upon the landscape. Also published by @omgjulia.bsky.social in Worlds of Possibility! #12DaysOfPoetry
www.swantower.com/writing/stor...
www.swantower.com/writing/stor...
Reposted by Marie Brennan
#12DaysofPoetry Day 9: “The Skeleton Cafe” in Orion’s Belt. Another speculative grief poem, this one centered around the quirky visitors (inhabitants?) of an afterlife cafe.
www.orions-belt.net/archives/the...
www.orions-belt.net/archives/the...
The Skeleton Cafe — Orion's Belt
Clicking teeth keep time in the skeleton cafe.
www.orions-belt.net
January 3, 2026 at 2:25 AM
#12DaysofPoetry Day 9: “The Skeleton Cafe” in Orion’s Belt. Another speculative grief poem, this one centered around the quirky visitors (inhabitants?) of an afterlife cafe.
www.orions-belt.net/archives/the...
www.orions-belt.net/archives/the...
Reposted by Marie Brennan
OMG 😭
Huntington's is an inherited disease that's like Alzheimers + Parkinson's all in one. NOW: "once the gene therapy has been delivered into the brain... [it] injects a piece of DNA to reprogram the neuron to become a factory for its own cure."
LIFE SAVING!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhEx...
Huntington's is an inherited disease that's like Alzheimers + Parkinson's all in one. NOW: "once the gene therapy has been delivered into the brain... [it] injects a piece of DNA to reprogram the neuron to become a factory for its own cure."
LIFE SAVING!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhEx...
Huntington's disease successfully treated for first time | BBC News
YouTube video by BBC News
www.youtube.com
September 25, 2025 at 9:27 PM
OMG 😭
Huntington's is an inherited disease that's like Alzheimers + Parkinson's all in one. NOW: "once the gene therapy has been delivered into the brain... [it] injects a piece of DNA to reprogram the neuron to become a factory for its own cure."
LIFE SAVING!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhEx...
Huntington's is an inherited disease that's like Alzheimers + Parkinson's all in one. NOW: "once the gene therapy has been delivered into the brain... [it] injects a piece of DNA to reprogram the neuron to become a factory for its own cure."
LIFE SAVING!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhEx...
Reposted by Marie Brennan
Barbra Streisand
January 3, 2026 at 1:24 AM
Barbra Streisand
Reposted by Marie Brennan
Clowns will say it doesn't matter; we don't have the numbers to impeach.
You get the numbers by FORCING THE ISSUE. You make NOISE, you DEMAND, you NEVER STOP YELLING.
You do nothing? You get nothing.
Ignore the clowns. Call your fucking reps and tell them to do their jobs and IMPEACH.
reps.fyi
You get the numbers by FORCING THE ISSUE. You make NOISE, you DEMAND, you NEVER STOP YELLING.
You do nothing? You get nothing.
Ignore the clowns. Call your fucking reps and tell them to do their jobs and IMPEACH.
reps.fyi
Find Your Representative
Find your representatives. Learn how to find and connect with them. Stay informed about their bills, committees, and contributions.
reps.fyi
January 3, 2026 at 7:52 AM
Clowns will say it doesn't matter; we don't have the numbers to impeach.
You get the numbers by FORCING THE ISSUE. You make NOISE, you DEMAND, you NEVER STOP YELLING.
You do nothing? You get nothing.
Ignore the clowns. Call your fucking reps and tell them to do their jobs and IMPEACH.
reps.fyi
You get the numbers by FORCING THE ISSUE. You make NOISE, you DEMAND, you NEVER STOP YELLING.
You do nothing? You get nothing.
Ignore the clowns. Call your fucking reps and tell them to do their jobs and IMPEACH.
reps.fyi
Reposted by Marie Brennan
Your Cherokee words for today.
The top word is English followed by how it is written in the Cherokee language followed by how it is spelled in English then how to pronounce it phonetically.
The origin of Magic part two
When the sun found her daughter dead, she went into the house and grieved, and
The top word is English followed by how it is written in the Cherokee language followed by how it is spelled in English then how to pronounce it phonetically.
The origin of Magic part two
When the sun found her daughter dead, she went into the house and grieved, and
January 3, 2026 at 5:34 AM
Your Cherokee words for today.
The top word is English followed by how it is written in the Cherokee language followed by how it is spelled in English then how to pronounce it phonetically.
The origin of Magic part two
When the sun found her daughter dead, she went into the house and grieved, and
The top word is English followed by how it is written in the Cherokee language followed by how it is spelled in English then how to pronounce it phonetically.
The origin of Magic part two
When the sun found her daughter dead, she went into the house and grieved, and
Reposted by Marie Brennan
My interview with poetry Hugo winner @swantower.bsky.social is up on the SFPA blog
we've had some exciting stuff out on the blog the past couple of days, so be sure to check it out!
might we recommend this interview with Marie Brennan, winner of the Hugo award for poetry ✨
sfpoetry.org/wp/2026/01/0...
might we recommend this interview with Marie Brennan, winner of the Hugo award for poetry ✨
sfpoetry.org/wp/2026/01/0...
Interview with Marie Brennan, winner of the Hugo award for poetry – Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association
sfpoetry.org
January 2, 2026 at 3:41 PM
My interview with poetry Hugo winner @swantower.bsky.social is up on the SFPA blog
Reposted by Marie Brennan
Day 9 of #12DaysOfPoetry - and the first of two days of dancing in the song. (I'm counting the leaping lords as dancing lords, though we could certainly think of other interpretations.)
So, "After the Dance," which originally appeared in Uncanny in 2015:
www.uncannymagazine.com/article/dance/
So, "After the Dance," which originally appeared in Uncanny in 2015:
www.uncannymagazine.com/article/dance/
January 2, 2026 at 8:54 PM
Day 9 of #12DaysOfPoetry - and the first of two days of dancing in the song. (I'm counting the leaping lords as dancing lords, though we could certainly think of other interpretations.)
So, "After the Dance," which originally appeared in Uncanny in 2015:
www.uncannymagazine.com/article/dance/
So, "After the Dance," which originally appeared in Uncanny in 2015:
www.uncannymagazine.com/article/dance/
Reposted by Marie Brennan
January 2, 2026 at 7:45 PM
Reposted by Marie Brennan
Happy science fiction day! To celebrate, today's #12DaysOfPoetry post is my favorite SF poem of 2025 - "them // us", published by @utopiascifi.bsky.social.
🚀 They
drop from the sky at moonrise
when silver beams twist around their silver capsule.💫
🚀 They
drop from the sky at moonrise
when silver beams twist around their silver capsule.💫
January 2, 2026 at 6:25 PM
Happy science fiction day! To celebrate, today's #12DaysOfPoetry post is my favorite SF poem of 2025 - "them // us", published by @utopiascifi.bsky.social.
🚀 They
drop from the sky at moonrise
when silver beams twist around their silver capsule.💫
🚀 They
drop from the sky at moonrise
when silver beams twist around their silver capsule.💫
Reposted by Marie Brennan
On the 9th day of #12DaysOfPoetry, I’m sharing my second of three favorites from 2025. @bfbzine.bsky.social picked up this blank-verse rumination on AI and the soul of art, and now I’m happy again to share it — “Citation may be required.”
January 2, 2026 at 6:00 PM
On the 9th day of #12DaysOfPoetry, I’m sharing my second of three favorites from 2025. @bfbzine.bsky.social picked up this blank-verse rumination on AI and the soul of art, and now I’m happy again to share it — “Citation may be required.”
Reposted by Marie Brennan
January 2, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Reposted by Marie Brennan
we've had some exciting stuff out on the blog the past couple of days, so be sure to check it out!
might we recommend this interview with Marie Brennan, winner of the Hugo award for poetry ✨
sfpoetry.org/wp/2026/01/0...
might we recommend this interview with Marie Brennan, winner of the Hugo award for poetry ✨
sfpoetry.org/wp/2026/01/0...
Interview with Marie Brennan, winner of the Hugo award for poetry – Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association
sfpoetry.org
January 2, 2026 at 2:23 PM
we've had some exciting stuff out on the blog the past couple of days, so be sure to check it out!
might we recommend this interview with Marie Brennan, winner of the Hugo award for poetry ✨
sfpoetry.org/wp/2026/01/0...
might we recommend this interview with Marie Brennan, winner of the Hugo award for poetry ✨
sfpoetry.org/wp/2026/01/0...
Reposted by Marie Brennan
Happy New Year, and happy Day 8 of #12DaysofPoetry! From April of this year I MEAN LAST YEAR BECAUSE IT'S NOT 2025 ANYMORE, I give you "Axis Mundi" in Eye to the Telescope, a tribute to the World Tree that's also kinda sorta a concrete poem:
eyetothetelescope.com/archives/056...
eyetothetelescope.com/archives/056...
Eye to the Telescope
Eye to the Telescope, the quarterly online journal of SFPA, the Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association, an international organization of speculative poets.
eyetothetelescope.com
January 1, 2026 at 7:36 PM
Happy New Year, and happy Day 8 of #12DaysofPoetry! From April of this year I MEAN LAST YEAR BECAUSE IT'S NOT 2025 ANYMORE, I give you "Axis Mundi" in Eye to the Telescope, a tribute to the World Tree that's also kinda sorta a concrete poem:
eyetothetelescope.com/archives/056...
eyetothetelescope.com/archives/056...
Reposted by Marie Brennan
Universal Basic Income now
The world’s 500 richest people have total wealth of $11.9tn.
Their wealth up by $2.2tn in 2025. 8 billionaires accounting for a 25% of the gains.
No one becomes this rich by working.
They fund right-wing parties, oppose worker/human rights, cause more pollution than normal people.
Their wealth up by $2.2tn in 2025. 8 billionaires accounting for a 25% of the gains.
No one becomes this rich by working.
They fund right-wing parties, oppose worker/human rights, cause more pollution than normal people.
Billionaires added record $2.2tn in wealth in 2025
Just eight billionaires accounted for a quarter of the gains, led by Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison and Larry Page
www.theguardian.com
January 1, 2026 at 8:54 AM
Universal Basic Income now
Reposted by Marie Brennan
Oh, let's:
#12DaysOfPoetry
Think of what we have already conjured
golden shadows, pie, a terrified bird –
So why this fear of cows? Don't be absurd.
Think of what we have already conjured.
(cont)
#12DaysOfPoetry
Think of what we have already conjured
golden shadows, pie, a terrified bird –
So why this fear of cows? Don't be absurd.
Think of what we have already conjured.
(cont)
January 1, 2026 at 9:27 PM
Oh, let's:
#12DaysOfPoetry
Think of what we have already conjured
golden shadows, pie, a terrified bird –
So why this fear of cows? Don't be absurd.
Think of what we have already conjured.
(cont)
#12DaysOfPoetry
Think of what we have already conjured
golden shadows, pie, a terrified bird –
So why this fear of cows? Don't be absurd.
Think of what we have already conjured.
(cont)
Reposted by Marie Brennan
Let the maids do their milking. We, laggard,
shall rest, and dream of how that gold glimmered.
Think of what we'd already conjured:
golden shadows, pie. A terrified bird.
#12DaysOfPoetry
shall rest, and dream of how that gold glimmered.
Think of what we'd already conjured:
golden shadows, pie. A terrified bird.
#12DaysOfPoetry
January 1, 2026 at 9:28 PM
Let the maids do their milking. We, laggard,
shall rest, and dream of how that gold glimmered.
Think of what we'd already conjured:
golden shadows, pie. A terrified bird.
#12DaysOfPoetry
shall rest, and dream of how that gold glimmered.
Think of what we'd already conjured:
golden shadows, pie. A terrified bird.
#12DaysOfPoetry
Reposted by Marie Brennan
And SPEAKING OF SESTINAS, can we talk about this one from Anne E. G. Nydam, from Strange Horizons, September 2025, about one of the lesser known tales collected by the Grimms?
#12DaysOfPoetry
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/po...
#12DaysOfPoetry
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/po...
January 1, 2026 at 9:24 PM
And SPEAKING OF SESTINAS, can we talk about this one from Anne E. G. Nydam, from Strange Horizons, September 2025, about one of the lesser known tales collected by the Grimms?
#12DaysOfPoetry
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/po...
#12DaysOfPoetry
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/po...
Reposted by Marie Brennan
Ooooh, day 8 of #12DaysOfPoetry, already?
Well, I don't think I've written all that many poems about cows and milk.....but I HAVE written one or two more poems about swans. Here's another, "Feather," which initially appeared in Goblin Fruit some time ago:
medium.com/@marikness/f...
Well, I don't think I've written all that many poems about cows and milk.....but I HAVE written one or two more poems about swans. Here's another, "Feather," which initially appeared in Goblin Fruit some time ago:
medium.com/@marikness/f...
January 1, 2026 at 9:19 PM
Ooooh, day 8 of #12DaysOfPoetry, already?
Well, I don't think I've written all that many poems about cows and milk.....but I HAVE written one or two more poems about swans. Here's another, "Feather," which initially appeared in Goblin Fruit some time ago:
medium.com/@marikness/f...
Well, I don't think I've written all that many poems about cows and milk.....but I HAVE written one or two more poems about swans. Here's another, "Feather," which initially appeared in Goblin Fruit some time ago:
medium.com/@marikness/f...
Reposted by Marie Brennan
start your year off right with 13 centos for #12DaysOfPoetry and pick up IS MY CHAINSAW A HEART today
buy my book it's really good
paper: www.kithbooks.com/shop/p/chain...
digital: www.kithbooks.com/digital/p/ch...
can't afford it? contact @kithbooks.bsky.social through the website
tell your library
tell your friends
perfect for Halloween
more poems at popelizbet.com
paper: www.kithbooks.com/shop/p/chain...
digital: www.kithbooks.com/digital/p/ch...
can't afford it? contact @kithbooks.bsky.social through the website
tell your library
tell your friends
perfect for Halloween
more poems at popelizbet.com
kith in print
Great books consume you, speak to you, and it’s tempting, when it happens, to eat the book back. With scalpel held steady, Elizabeth McClellan has managed just that. The centos in Is My Chainsaw a Hea...
www.kithbooks.com
January 1, 2026 at 9:07 PM
start your year off right with 13 centos for #12DaysOfPoetry and pick up IS MY CHAINSAW A HEART today
Reposted by Marie Brennan
Enter the new year like a long-eared rabbit emerging through a curtain of tall grass to face the stars 🌌
December 30, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Enter the new year like a long-eared rabbit emerging through a curtain of tall grass to face the stars 🌌
In an era too much championing cruelty and selfishness, my one and only resolution for 2026 is to strive toward radical kindness and empathy.
Yes, even toward those who "don't deserve it" and would deny the same to me. That's what radical means.
Yes, even toward those who "don't deserve it" and would deny the same to me. That's what radical means.
January 1, 2026 at 9:22 PM
In an era too much championing cruelty and selfishness, my one and only resolution for 2026 is to strive toward radical kindness and empathy.
Yes, even toward those who "don't deserve it" and would deny the same to me. That's what radical means.
Yes, even toward those who "don't deserve it" and would deny the same to me. That's what radical means.