Introduction

Dear Readers and Contributors,

Thanks for visiting this month's issue of Subjective Substance. I hope you will find this 
month's poetry to be worthy of your attention. I certainly feel that reading it has 
contributed in some way to my appreciation of The Divine in everyday life. I also am very 
impressed by the thoughtfulness of the poems. They certainly deserve more than a superficial 
reading. Please share your thoughts with me. 

The submissions that I get constantly challenge me to rework my assumptions about what this 
journal is meant to be. Each person has a unique way of expressing their attitude of faith 
and their aesthetic sensibility. Some people allude indirectly to struggles that have a deeper 
meaning, others plead directly with God. Some profess their faith, others their ignorance. Some 
write in near prose, others prefer traditional rhyme. It is part of the beauty of getting 
submissions from all types of people and an interesting way to approach the study of the 
human soul, quite literally a psychology. And I hope that people continue to realize that poetry
can be more than art, but a window to the soul. 

Contrary to the mainstream usage of the word, a purer definition of the root psyche in "psychology" 
refers to the soul. Cognitive science and behaviorism define psychology these days, but the real 
deal is much deeper. One of the frustrations with modern psychology is the disavowal of the soul 
in favor of the mind, the brain, feelings, biology, or interpersonal relationships, when analyzing the 
essential forces that make up a human being. Our poetry has an appreciation for the complexity
of the human condition and speaks to a fuller psychology.
   
In line with the concept of poetry as a window to the soul, readers of Subjective Substance may
have noticed that our poets speak from many different demographic perspectives as well. They 
write from all parts of the world. This means several things. One, Subjective Substance is a 
great place to promote the cross-fertilization of culture. It can be eye-opening to read "crossover" 
types of poetry. For an example, check out Linda Bielowski's Eintou poetry. Second, in this day 
and age, where non-mainstream voices continue to be marginalized, I hope to continue to give an 
outlet to those who have few. Furthermore, thank God for the internet for helping to connect us. 
Let's enjoy it while it's still around. 

All the best in life and writing!

Omar Azam