—Han Yu (768-824)

 

Interview “Not all the mystic images are violent (though on the whole I’ve picked up on the violence in Specula). Some are very beautiful meditative pieces, or sensual imaginings like the Tree of the Senses, with the five different fruits. The violence is the inevitable expression of the desire for freedom within such a repressive context as most mediaeval women lived. And also, the violences against and within these women were real and physical, and in the conundrums they present I think it’s important, no, crucial to remember this. What then women might do with that real violence, in transforming it for example into a source of spiritual enlightenment, is both problematic and amazing. ” An interview with Australian poet Alison Croggon. By Rebecca Seiferle. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Special Feature “Life’s a place where it’s forbidden to live.” —Marina Tsvetayeva The re-release of the American Book Award winning WOMEN ON WAR: An Anthology of Women’s Writings from Antiquity to the Present edited by Daniela Gioseffi In connection with International Women’s Day, March 8th, a selection of works from Women on War by Marina Tsvetayeva, Tsai Wen-ji, Doan Thi Diem, Marguerite Duras, and Vesna Parun – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – To visit Poets Against the War – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Where iron railings and barbed wire demarcate public space, in and about temple alcoves and surrounding barred verandas, thrust out against the street in doorways and against walls, held back in the inertia of their daily lives or simply waiting for work…With ropes, poles, boxes and baskets, the tools of their working lives, and with the canes and sticks that some hold to and rely on, often with cigarette gripped in a hand —artifacts of clinging, limits and supports, the immediate surface of their lives laid bare… Against the dismissive vantage of an enclosing city, exposed torsos and limbs, arms, hands, face and gaze, the speechless, the unseen, in warrened space…only the expanse of their longing remains, locked in, heralded by the outlandish signs of politics and business as usual. Poems and Photos from Nepal. By Wayne Amtzis. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Online “We try to be truly eclectic, looking for craft, engagement, innovation, trim, strong endings and, as one contributor noted, pieces by writers who are paying attention. Beyond that, if we begin to detect a pattern in the work we select, we try to change. And oh, yes, we are always searching for joy; not as subject matter, but springing from the enjoyment of great work. ” By Kathryn Rantala, Editor. “Alba is a literary ezine. . .located on the Ravenna Press website. . . The word Alba means morning light, the light at dawn, and is taken from the title to a short poem by Ezra Pound. Although Alba appeared previously in a print version, it is currently an electronic magazine, publishing a new issue on a semi-annual basis. ” By Harold Bowes . “The premier issue of Full Circle, A Journal of Poetry and Prose, emerged online October 15, 2002, and combines poetry, prose, fiction, memoir, and engaging interviews. Issues will appear online every other month and, twice a year, Full Circle will publish a ‘best of’ print edition.” By Allegra Wong and Daniel Blasi. Muse Apprentice Guild “ the principle mission of the muse apprentice guild is to represent all the great literary voices that are producing exceptionally high-calibre poetry and literature today – the m.a.g. deems it a virtuous ideal to be inclusive and anthological” By August Highland. “ Nidus means nest. It’s a word that dates back to at least 1742, with a citation example in the Oxford English Dictionary from Henry Baker: ‘The Eggs . . . hatch and thrive when they happen to be lodged in a proper Nidus for them.’ Baker was an early adopter of the microscope and that orientation fits our journal. We closely examine everything we get—all incoming poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction—to weave together each new issue on the web.” By Lynn Wagner. – – – – – – – – – – – – Recommended Reading Pushcart Prize XXVII Best of the Small Presses. Except for One Obscene Brushstroke By Dzvinia Orlowsky