Introduction

This month, I am pleased to present a handful of special poems which are remarkable for their diversity
of styles and perspectives. First of all, I would like to thank the growing list of contributors. I am 
delighted that we share a little of the same vision of what poetry can be. 

In this issue: Carol Greenberg shares with us a wonderful poem/story. Janet I. Buck paints the season
of winter into transcendent meaning. Tolulope Ogunlesi expands the metaphor of the bridge. Corey 
Mesler elevates the sentence poem as Ravie Shankar Rajan does the acrostic. And Nathan Raymond
Orton uses refrain to speak simple truth.

Also, beginning this month, Shafeeq Ahmed, poet and essayist, begins a two part-essay on the "Death 
of Reading." His insightful and resoundingly relevant piece should be required reading, even for those 
of us who might consider ourselves well-read. 

Enjoy!

Omar Azam