Dear readers,
Spring is indeed in the air. This is what we tell ourselves. Spring brings promise of hope, of new things growing, of things germinating, shoots reaching forth. Yet, for some parts of the world, snow still lingers, blanketing whole areas. Where I am, the rains come often. Is it the monsoon? I ask my mom. No, it's Spring. Spring is always like that with rains and wind, my mom says while the wind howls at her place. I swear my parents live where the dragon flows.
The image of blooming flowers is often associated with Spring, joy and hope. For fruiting trees, the presence of flowers would mean the promise of fruit. For bees, the presence of flowers would mean the harvesting of nectar and then the making of honey. For many of us, flowers also mean pollen and hay fever, an uncomfortable season for our sinuses and throats. For gardeners, it would mean a lot of sweeping and clearing of yards.
In this issue, we asked what flower meant to you, readers, poets and photographers.
Autumn Dupin's and Sammi Cox's beautiful poems are poignant, laced with wistful longing. For us, flowers make us smile and think of happy things. Good things. Promise. Hope. Longing. flowers are also symbols of love. We long for love and passion with our lovers in our lives. Peeling artichoke bracts one by one, teeth scrapping off the sweet softness dipped in melted butter. Counting the ways our lovers love us. Roses. Gardens. Romance. Reciprocation.
Flowers make us think of Life and the rich joy that comes with it. The photography by Rae White brought the editors joy when we saw them. A simple stroll in the park refreshes the body and soul. In our busy lives governed by sound-bites and social media clamoring for our undivided attention, we are reminded that a real physical world exists beneath our feet. Switch off your phones and observe the beauty of this world.
Therefore, my dear readers, feast your eyes on the gorgeous visual poems. Read them aloud. Savor them.
Joyce, Editor-in-Chief
Spring is indeed in the air. This is what we tell ourselves. Spring brings promise of hope, of new things growing, of things germinating, shoots reaching forth. Yet, for some parts of the world, snow still lingers, blanketing whole areas. Where I am, the rains come often. Is it the monsoon? I ask my mom. No, it's Spring. Spring is always like that with rains and wind, my mom says while the wind howls at her place. I swear my parents live where the dragon flows.
The image of blooming flowers is often associated with Spring, joy and hope. For fruiting trees, the presence of flowers would mean the promise of fruit. For bees, the presence of flowers would mean the harvesting of nectar and then the making of honey. For many of us, flowers also mean pollen and hay fever, an uncomfortable season for our sinuses and throats. For gardeners, it would mean a lot of sweeping and clearing of yards.
In this issue, we asked what flower meant to you, readers, poets and photographers.
Autumn Dupin's and Sammi Cox's beautiful poems are poignant, laced with wistful longing. For us, flowers make us smile and think of happy things. Good things. Promise. Hope. Longing. flowers are also symbols of love. We long for love and passion with our lovers in our lives. Peeling artichoke bracts one by one, teeth scrapping off the sweet softness dipped in melted butter. Counting the ways our lovers love us. Roses. Gardens. Romance. Reciprocation.
Flowers make us think of Life and the rich joy that comes with it. The photography by Rae White brought the editors joy when we saw them. A simple stroll in the park refreshes the body and soul. In our busy lives governed by sound-bites and social media clamoring for our undivided attention, we are reminded that a real physical world exists beneath our feet. Switch off your phones and observe the beauty of this world.
Therefore, my dear readers, feast your eyes on the gorgeous visual poems. Read them aloud. Savor them.
Joyce, Editor-in-Chief