Notes from the Editor

Hello Readers,

Though not official on the calendar, the days have already shifted and shortened; autumn is here. Many of the poems is this issue speak to this turn, or will speak of tomatoes and of fathers, sometimes in the same poem (with thanks to Stacey Boe Miller). Many will speak of birds—warblers, sparrows, chickens, and owls—or just feathers—an airy dance for you, dear reader. As I read and reread the collection, I am left with a feeling of having navigated some perilous adventures successfully. I won’t drop names today but leave you to discover what is treasure.

For those of you interested in data and demographics, this issue features contributors from 22 different states and four different countries, 22 men and 19 women. Twenty-six of the forty-one poets are first-time Willawaw contributors. There is a pleasing array of talent, emerging to very well-established.

The artist, David Memmott, generously shares with us a high-energy and high-chroma palette of work based on photo and ink drawing, which he calls his “Crooked Comix.” See the BACK PAGE for his artist statement and link to his website gallery. He is also a contributing poet.

Are you ready to go inward, to move into the darkness of winter? Let these poems carry you across the threshold. And please share with your friends.

Yours in poetry,

Rachel Barton