I’ve noticed a lot of stunning work by relatively new writers coming across my desk recently, and I thought, what better way to launch spring than by sharing work written by new poets? It is the season to celebrate fresh life, after all! I love reading work by emerging poets that demonstrates great talent and potential. Being one of the first to see work by the up-and-comers is one of the most exciting parts of working on the Poetry Column. It brings me so much joy to see the crocuses and daffodils rise up each spring, and I get the same happiness when I see a poem deftly crafted by someone rising up in the poetry and publishing worlds. This month, we’ve assembled work by a number of these talented writers who are pretty new to the scene. I think you’ll be as impressed as I am by the talent and promise these writers demonstrate in the fine poems we get to share with you this month. Editor-in-Chief Ken Robidoux introduces our featured emerging poet:
Andi Stout is a native West Virginian with as authentic and authoritative a voice as any I’ve read from an emerging artist— a true, natural, Appalachian voice. I was once in a workshop with the brilliant James Harms as he explained how he missed angry poems. It is clear that lesson was not lost on Ms Stout, who studied from Jim at WVU, as it is precisely how she regulates anger in her work that makes it so vital. West Virginia is the home of Connotation Press because folks out here love, respect, and support the arts. One of the new generation of talented artist here in the Mountain State, and one of the strongest, Andi Stout gives me cause to believe poetry is alive and well and in the best of hands. I’m looking forward to congratulating the house smart and lucky enough to publish her first collection in the near future.
I’m thrilled to have three stunning prose poems from our friend Danielle Mitchell, who has done very well since working as our first Intern here at Connotation Press back in 2009. Her work knocked my socks off. I recommend reading all of them, then starting over and reading them all over again because, for me at least, I got deeper into the poems the more I read. The stacked images, the firm command of shifting time, and the thought-provoking insights left me impressed and looking forward to more. I’m excited about Danielle’s very promising poetry career. Welcome and well done, Danielle!
Lisa Low graces the column with lovely, stunning work. I love the way her poems speak in series of beautiful, surprising, fresh images. The associational logic of these poems, one image often leading to another memory’s image, and so on, is relaxing and beautiful to me. The water-like, honest tone, enraptured me. Low’s poetry shows maturity in the way images and memories evoke multiple feelings, sometimes at once, sometimes in strings. I could easily quote brilliant portions of these poems, but I don’t want to spoil them for you. Please, swirl your fingers through these poems for a while. Linger on the phrases that catch your attention. They will lead you deeper.
Associate Editor JP Reese discovered three of our up-and-comers this month. Of these fine writers, Ms Reese writes:
Andrew Koch has generously shared three of his poems with us this month. His is a unique voice that tells us stories from the hills and hollers of Eastern Tennessee and Kentucky. His words unfold like a “…peacock / its majestic fan spread, /a hundred teardrop eyes that / [shake] like strips of newspaper / in January cold.” The work is accessible and wise, especially considering Koch is at the beginning of his writing career, having recently graduated with his BA in Creative Writing. What is it about the University of Tennessee? They produce some fine, fine writers, and Andrew is another in a long line of poets whose work I’ve been fortunate enough to share with you, our audience.
Who says a poet with an MFA writes prescriptive, obscure, allusive poems that are just too, too clever? Not me. Austin Kodra proves those folks who do think that way are mistaken. His poem, “Woman Killed after Crashing Stolen Cop Car…” is a story of a family’s past, present, and future in five, short stanzas. “Concussed” speaks to a current issue, but not by way of reportage. Instead, the speaker is empathetic and gentle, the words true and painful. Welcome to the family, Austin. They’re gonna love you.
I suspect undergrad Isabelle Shepherd has a long and successful poetry career ahead of her. These three poems are intelligent and lyrical for a person just starting out in her art. In her bio. Isabelle says she is looking for an MFA program. On the contrary, they should be looking for her. Read these wonderful poems, and I know you’ll agree with me, “…[pin] one down, needle through thorax, / quieting the writhing of its thick abdomen until [you /can] spread its gilded wings.” Welcome to the family, Isabelle!
Come on in, wander through our budding garden. Isn’t it wonderful when some part of the future looks bright and beautiful?