Our guest poet for this issue is Christopher Patchel. Many of you will remember him as the editor of Frogpond, a service he provided from 2016 through 2018. He also applied his very considerable talents as an artist to Frogpond covers from 2012 through 2018, a high point in that journal’s history in this regard, in my opinion. I have had the pleasure of serving as his editor at The Heron’s Nest and of witnessing the always fresh and inventive approach he takes with his poetry.

It has been an eventful six months since our last issue. Shawn and
Susan are fully integrated into the group. Starting now, you will be able
to enjoy their work on an equal basis in these pages.

Mary was a featured speaker at Wild Graces in August. Her presenta-
tion was greeted with universal appreciation and she has been urged
by many to make it available in print for the benefit of those who were
unable to attend this year’s gathering.

I have experienced a detached retina, requiring extensive treatment
over the entire summer. The final results are still to be seen but it ap-
pears that I will have serviceable but diminished vision.

Yu Chang usually has the primary editorial responsibility for selecting
and devising the order of presentation of poems. He has given that job
to me this time. I am excited to give it a try, though I have other feel-
ings, too. These probably influenced my choice of the opening poem
(from Tom) for this issue.

js

Sample poems

into autumn
a windshield nick
branching

Christopher Patchel

thrift store
do I look like
an American
yc

giving in to sadness
another load
of darks
sy

scent of lilacs
I take
more than I need
sb

just beyond reach
more
great-looking berries
tc

the moon
seemingly
alone
js

war zone—
the cement dove’s
dream of flying
ms