The Note

T h e  N o t e

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Let's start with this poem, which I didn't include in the issue, so I'm including it in The Note. (Which sort of includes it in the issue when you think about it.  But don't think about it.)

S t e p h e n   G i l c h r i s t*

Basho Trismegistus

A glass stream trickles

deep into an icy heart,

melts—

Dammit

I missed this part:

Haiku.  We actually like haiku,

but discourage it for our

particular publication.

This is actually just the latest of a number of poems about our submission guidelines received over the years. One day, we hope to do an entire issue of poems, short stories, and visual art inspired by our submission guidelines. I'm also thinking about a special issue consisting only of work about things we don't normally accept. You know, dead grandparents, things found in the attic, pets (living/dead), etc.     

Right Hand Pointing has always presented only short work and, from time to time, we do these special issues of very short poems. I think, as an editor, these are the issues I most enjoy putting together. The challenge with this one was picking just 12 of the 130 or so poems submitted for the issue. I had to decline some work which, upon declining said work, I just got on the floor for a few minutes and wept and sucked my thumb and sort of rubbed the carpet with my free hand, trying to comfort myself with the texture. (Oh, shut up. Like you've never been there!)

There's nothing in poetry that I admire more than economy of expression. A poem that does lots with less. So, here you go, Issue 51. The whole darn thing is about 300 words. See you on the Contributor's page in about 3 minutes!

Dale

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 *Stephen Gilchrist is a born-and-bred Long Islander whose hobbies include decrying contemporary culture and the hollowness of modern life.

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