Welcome to Issue 5 and our final issue for 2020!
Although it’s been a strange and difficult year, we at Feral and Animal Heart Press have found comfort and inspiration in the amazing words and visions of our contributors.
We started the year with an un-themed issue where we all first experienced our Art Editor, Amanda McLeod’s, amazing matchmaking skills with poetry and art.
https://feralpoetry.net/issue-one-premiere/
In Issue 2 (Transformation) we had our first art feature because an artist asked us to consider six images instead of three. We love it when you don’t follow our rules!
https://feralpoetry.net/issue-two-transformation/
With Issue 3 (Body) we were humbled by your bravery and enchanted by the unexpected ways you interpreted the theme.
https://feralpoetry.net/issue-three-body/
And for Issue 4 (Journey) you imagined something quite different than we expected. This issue was also our first with poetry features.
https://feralpoetry.net/issue-four-journey/
We are ending the year the way we started, with an un-themed issue. Issue 5 brings a number of new “firsts.” It’s the first issue with more art than poetry. The first issue with collaborative work. The first issue with our new reader, Narmadhaa. And the first issue with artwork from previous poetry contributors.
One thing that all our issues share is the diversity of our contributors. Today we bring you work from poets and artists living in 13 countries: Australia, Canada, China, England, India, Ireland, Liberia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, The Philippines, Scotland and the United States (including poets in 13 states). You will also find both established and emerging poets/artists; as with our previous issues, this is the first publication credit for several contributors. I encourage you to read all the bios to get a sense of our commitment to bringing you a wide variety of often marginalized voices.
Thank you, contributors. Thank you, readers. Thank you, Amanda, for making us all look good.
See you in 2021!
Beth Gordon
Managing Editor