The Bitter Oleander :: NewPages Guide to Literary Magazines

The Bitter Oleander

A Magazine of Contemporary International Poetry & Short Fiction

Publisher’s Description: The Bitter Oleander is a biannually published journal of contemporary poetry and short fiction. Although it publishes mostly domestic poetry, its primary focus continues to be on poetry in translation with a particular concentration on the imaginative creation of language from a very individualized perception. It has had work represented in the Best American Poetry (1999) and recognized as Best Literary Journal (2005) through Public Radio’s "Excellence in Print" award 

SPECIALTY: Each issue contains a featured poet which includes a large selection of his or her poetry as well as an in-depth interview with editor Paul B. Roth. Since a great deal of emphasis is on contemporary poetry written outside the U.S., TBO has interviewed such poets as Marjorie Agosín (Chile), Ruxandra Cesereanu (Romania), Alberto Blanco (Mexico), Nicomedes Suaréz-Araúz (Bolivia), Ye Chun (Chinese), Aase Berg (Swedish), Martín Camps (Mexico). It has also published the work of such award winning American poets as W.S. Merwin, Robert Bly, Charles Wright, Duane Locke, Colette Inez, Alan Britt, Silvia Scheibli, Ray Gonzalez, Christine Boyka Kluge, and Anthony Seidman.

“The Bitter Oleander is the epitome representation, and the vividly idealized lodestone of the heights a periodical can achieve within the alternative small press. The thought clarity is brilliant... excellence is the noticeable reoccurring rhythm woven throughout the tapestry of this work.” — Joyce Metzger (Small Press Review)

Recent issues:

Without coming up for air, this issue (17.2, Summer 2011) includes more translations from the French of Laurence Werner David, from the Estonian by Kristiina Ehin, a feature including an interview and a large selection of poems by the outstanding French poet Fiona Sze-Lorrain, new short fiction by Antoinette Constable, Stephanie Dickinson, and Peter Tieryas Liu along with new poetry by Alan Britt, Ray Gonzalez, Serena Fusek, Lara Gularte, Rich Ives, Anthony Seidman, Patty Dickson Pieczka and many other new voices. Also included in this issue is the winning poem from this year's Frances Locke Award winner Sunghui Chang.

Volume 17 Number 1, Spring 2011: Rich Ives presents a multifaceted perspective of the world around us both through his poetry, his artisanship and music. A generous selection of his work furthers his ability to capture the real in the most intimate of particulars. Also included in this issue is the poetry of such notables as Robert Bly, Alan Britt, Lara Gularte, Patrick Lawler, Wanling Su, Anthony Seidman, Lisa D. Schmidt and translations from the poetry of Jacques Dupin (France), Kristiina Ehin (Estonia), Yang Jian (China), Carmen Váscones (Ecuador), Yang Zi (China) and Santiago Vizcaíno (Ecuador). Rounding out the issue in fine form are the four short fiction pieces by James Frazier, Simon Howells, Mark Joseph Kiewlak, and James Schlatter.