The Journal
'...plenty of different styles of poetry in each issue. The result is that, whilst The Journal will never have that sense of comforting familiarity that some 'zine have developed, it will always stretch your boundaries.' The Supplement #73
'...an international magazine in the tradition of Poesie Europe, Ecuatorial, and Labrys. It publishes poems in English, in particular by English-language poets in exile, translations into English alongside the originals, interviews with poets, and appraisals of current poetry scenes...' Wolfgang Görtschacher 'A plainly elegant layout, making the most of its size to incorporate sequences and longer poems, articles and plenty of reviews .... The contents are global ... all saying what has to be said, in ways and words you wish you'd imagined. Shining intelligence, to brighten and inspire serious poetry lovers.' Orbis 'Few publications deliver consistently good issues — The Journal is among them. Filled with well-written poems from some of the best contemporary poets I've ever read, The Journal is the definitive showpiece of the small press. Each issue also contains thorough book and journal reviews composed by writers whose love of literature is evident.' Hyacinthe L. Raven Via Dolorosa Press (USA) '...interesting and experimental while avoiding the obscure and unnecessarily difficult. Add to the excellent selection of poetry, some interesting and insightful reviews and The Journal is a must for anyone who loves poetry and is not afraid of a bit of experimentation and the new insights that this can bring.' Juliet Wilson
|
|
|
#63 front cover poem by James Bell (France)
messages in bottles
and there is that practice of walking
a subliminal beach
where you need to use your imagination
where the bare foot marks in the sand
are your own
it is dawn and waves have washed
the shore
are the only other living energy
apart from the rising sun
it is as if you are not there
have been excused the usual dimension
intruded upon by a bottle on the shore
that you open
for the message inside
it says
you are here
another bottle further on
also has a message
you are also here
yet another bottle further on
holds a message
you are here too
dawn light is reflected from
a series of other bottles on the shore
you can choose to open them all
or not
messages in bottles
and there is that practice of walking
a subliminal beach
where you need to use your imagination
where the bare foot marks in the sand
are your own
it is dawn and waves have washed
the shore
are the only other living energy
apart from the rising sun
it is as if you are not there
have been excused the usual dimension
intruded upon by a bottle on the shore
that you open
for the message inside
it says
you are here
another bottle further on
also has a message
you are also here
yet another bottle further on
holds a message
you are here too
dawn light is reflected from
a series of other bottles on the shore
you can choose to open them all
or not
