by Sam Bartle
Magnetar, Magnetar
The one they call the ‘Zombie’ star
Born, out of stellar explosion
Or, where neutron stars merge and engage.
Almost fantastical notion
That could tear atoms in its rage.
A terror of radiation.
Less than a second’s duration,
Bursts forth greater energy than
A hundred thousand years of sun.
That pulse’s fractional timespan,
Over, just as soon as begun.
One can scarcely believe
How the great cosmos may achieve
Such unlikely physical feats.
This strange star, whose wonders astound
From the vantage of our earthly streets.
Yet, so few are there to be found.
Not often Nature’s will.
Yes, rare, but in existence still,
Among a hundred billion suns,
May number merely in their tens
Truly, the improbable ones
When viewed through the widest lens.
But in this space, so bleak
The Magnetar is not unique.
From galaxy to stellar storm
Everything has its recurrence.
Nothing is of its own sole form
Not exclusive in occurrence.
Not alone. Not. Alone.
Of this, the Magnetar has shown.
And so, to Life, the civilised kind
Our search for its example.
Beyond Earth, how much might we find?
In truth, it may be ample.
Life’s solitary vale
Viewed upon universal scale
May abound in great multitude
Amid countless galaxies, where
A sentient plethora finds its aptitude.
Emerging from the darkness there.
It is a wondrous thought
For all things have their kindred sort
Where forces and fields conspire
In the untold heavens afar
To be forged from Creation’s fire
And here, we thrive, oh Magnetar!
Sam Bartle was born in Hull, England, and has been published in various magazines and journals, including Lothlorien Poetry Journal, Dreich, Green Ink Poetry, and Poetry Lab Shanghai. He performs regularly at open mic events, and has appeared at local festivals. A suite of nine space poems entitled ‘The Planetary Ennead’, was published in March 2023, and Sam’s poetry has recently expanded into visual arts with commissioned interpretations for the Bath Fringe Festival, Pocklington Arts Centre, Hull Minster, Picturehouse York, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire Wildlife Trusts, and East Riding Festival Of Words.
His debut collection, ‘Emergent Dreams’ was published in 2024 by Alien Buddha Press.
In his work life he holds a Distinguished Service in Archives Award from the Archives Records Association (UK & Ireland) and is a shortlisted content creator in the Digital Culture Awards from Arts Council England. Sam has a website and blogs about his and other poetry at poetinverse.com.
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