Dear Readers,
Welcome to the Summer issue of The High Window. We are delighted by the growing international interest in our online journal and printing press. This issue sees work from across the age spectrum, from Sophie Reisbord, aged 15, to Maurice Rutherford who is 95 this year, with a range of ages in between!
In previous issues detectable themes have appeared in the submissions accepted, but the poems in issue 6 are incredibly diverse. What strikes us is the language that crackles at sometimes subtle and sometimes loud decibels, and that the poems are profoundly confident in themselves, as if the poets had chiselled their thoughts to the point of no return: this is what I have to say. As Peter Daniel’s writes in ‘Down and Up’:
On the upper side of the cloud cover, God sits deciding
what’s on the cards, sharpening the moon like a sickle.
In this issue we have six book reviews of work by Peter Sirr, Gerard Smyth, Adam Wyeth, Michael Crowley, Ruth Sharman and the recently deceased Roy Fisher.
The essay is a homage (if not elegy) Sam Gardiner, who died a little over one year ago, and the Featured American poet is the wonderfully talented Richard Hoffman. Get to know him more ‘in conversation with’ …
Our resident artist, Angela Smyth, has illustrated the poems of Anne Irwin, Sue Burge and Daniel Marshall. previous poets who have had their work illustrated have been interested in buying the original art work from Angela. This service she is happy to provide.
The translation supplement focusses on Dutch poetry. Seven poets’ work is presented in versions by four translators. This feature was guest edited by David Colmer and with support from the Dutch Foundation for Literature. We are deeply grateful for their interest in The High Window and the financial aid which enabled us to commission these new translations.
The High Window summer publication is The Edge of Seeing by John Duffy. We are proud of this book and have immense faith in this poet. John’s book can be bought via our Press page.
Finally, a heartfelt thanks to our reviewers, essayist, American poet, David Colmer, Angela Smyth and to the fabulous poets who submit their work free gratis. We would not have The High Window without you.
Happy Summer
The Editors
