While it’s officially summer in the northern hemisphere until September 23, autumn is chuffing some loud ahems from behind the curtain here on in Santa Barbara: kids are starting a new school year, a few trees are rushing the turn toward fall, and we even had a day of heavy rain. Advisory editor Dave Mason, a grandfather in summer himself, brings us a newborn song to start the issue (though he’s writing from the Southern Hemisphere, where spring is just beginning). On this side of the Pacific, two poems from Claudia M. Reder seem to follow the same currents. Melanie Galizio gives us a little hint of Halloween from a new mother’s perspective. Karen Paul Holmes elevates the experience of flying home. Frank C. Modica returns to the theme of who we are before we are. Elaine Mintzer offers some tongue-in-cheek commandments for writers. Hari B Parisi made us wonder if writing poetry is a variety of birdwatching (maybe?). The “fall back” time change is still a couple of months away, but Connie Post is ready. Emilie Lygren offers up a prayer in what has become fire season. Robert McDonald writes of shifts and urgency and music. Hannah Englander bookends the issue from a granddaughter’s perspective.

We hope you enjoy reading through the issue. Thanks to all who sent poems for us to consider, including many excellent poems we couldn’t fit in this issue. As always, we welcome your submissions here. You can also email us proposals for essays or reviews here.


David Mason

In the Nursery
The Grandfather in Summer

Claudia M. Reder

Why I Live Near Water
Thirst

Melanie Galizio

The Cemetery Is a Garden

Karen Paul Holmes

Flight from Amsterdam

Frank C. Modica

My Grandmother’s Tongue
Anonymous

Elaine Mintzer

Ars Biblica

Hari B Parisi

In the Background a Goat Bleats Shrilly

Connie Post

Time Change

Emilie Lygren

Defensible Space

Robert McDonald

Lives of the Saints

Hannah Englander

Prints