We celebrate the uses of poetic form this issue. While contemporary poetry often revolves around the words and their meanings and uses form in a less structured way than earlier western poetry, this edition shines a light on the power of structure and form. Rather than reverting to traditional rhyme schemes with iambic pentameter, the opening poem by Carol Tiebout employs a 15th century Malaysian form, the pantoum. Tiebout engages us in a dreamlike flow as the second and fourth lines of each stanza become the first and third lines of the following stanza, providing a modern look at the power of this classic folk form. S.d.s. offers the measured cadence of the heptasyllabic lines whose seven beats drive the movement of “The Nebula,” while Mritunjay Mohan’s duo of astrologically-named visual poems further remind us that poetry’s power resides not only in the words themselves but also the spaces between them.
Thematically, this issue’s fiction and many of its poems explore connection and understanding. Doug Van Hooser’s poignant short story, “Cut Flowers,” demonstrates the ways in which we navigate and make our way past the barriers that divide us. Susan Rancourt’s evocative poem invoking Native American ancestral wisdom offers solace in the bonds and communication that transcend generations. We also welcome back Alex Stolis for a compelling trio of poems drawing inspiration from Orwell’s 1984. Stolis delves into the truth-destroying realm of “doublethink” where war is peace and black is white—a timely reflection on the dangers of disinformation and false narratives that continue to plague today’s political discourse.
Be well, stay safe, help each other.
Leonard Lang, Editor
New Books from Our Contributors
- Walter Bargen…October 1 is the release date for his 27th book, Radiation diary: Return to the Sea (poetry).