Speculative poetry

Also variously called science fiction poetry or SF poetry or fantastic poetry, speculative poetry is to poetry roughly what speculative fiction is to fiction. Speculative poetry is often published by the same markets that publish science fiction, fantasy and horror.

Speculative poetry is not defined by form, unlike most sub-categories of poetry. Speculative poets work in the full variety of forms available to all poets; what makes speculative poetry speculative is generally the subject matter, though some poets have approached their speculation on a language level, experimenting with possible future or alien dialects and the like. Suzette Haden Elgin, founder of the Science Fiction Poetry Association, defines speculative poetry as being "about a reality that is in some way different from the existing reality."

Writers of speculative poetry include Duane Ackerson, Brian Aldiss, Mike Allen, Michael Bishop, Bruce Boston, Ray Bradbury, Adam Cornford, Keith Allen Daniels, Thomas M. Disch, Robert Frazier, Daphne Gottlieb, Neile Graham, Joe Haldeman, Andrew Joron, David C. Kopaska-Merkel, Ursula K. Le Guin, Tim Pratt, W. Gregory Stewart, and Jane Yolen. The major award for the field is the Rhysling Award.