August 1, 2021
As we wrapped up this issue and I was sending the files to Amanda to do her magic, I realized that I’ve become a cliché. I am now that journal editor who when asked “what’s your favorite,” will always be madly in love with the latest issue. So, yes, I love all the ways our poets and artists interpreted the theme of SPACE, both expected and unexpected.
Even with the expected space poems, there are some surprises. We have more stars(23) than moons (21). More universes (11) than planets (7). An equal number of skies and black holes (16). Only 1 spaceship, but 3 rockets. One Star Wars poem but no Star Trek. Earth is mentioned 17 times but Jupiter only 7 and Mars only 6. Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Neptune, and Pluto did not make the list. Four aliens but only 1 UFO. 3 constellations, 2 galaxies, 1 comet. More dark (18) than sun (10).
As for the unexpected, I’ll let you be surprised.
The usual stats. Issue 9 has the work of 49 contributors (poets and artists), 12 returning and 37 new. Of the 37 new contributors, 8 have been previously rejected (always resubmit). Our contributors (who have shared their location) currently live in England, Germany, India, Ireland, the Philippines, the United States (23 states), and Zimbabwe. Given the theme, it is also fitting that we have one contributor with “no fixed abode.”
Live Long and Prosper,
Beth Gordon
Managing Editor