32 Poems – Spring 2004
Volume 1 Number 2
Spring 2004
Jeannine Hall Gailey
32 Poems once again impressed me, in its inimitable way, with the contrast between its modest appearance and superb content. The 32 poems (yes, hence the name of the magazine) in this issue lean heavily towards the lyric, and most have a playful sense of language that extends, at times, to their subjects. God, language, and poetry itself are interwoven in much of the work, including Heather McHugh’s clever “Ill-Made Almighty” and Lisa Gluskin’s wonderful “De Profundis.” There are so many exceptional poems I cannot quote from all of them. Do check out Daniel Nester’s “Prodigies” on the 32 Poems web site. Here are a few lines from Jill Osier’s melancholy “Kansas”: “The fields sweat into the air, a mild stew. / The ballplayer rolls over. His sheets are wet.
32 Poems once again impressed me, in its inimitable way, with the contrast between its modest appearance and superb content. The 32 poems (yes, hence the name of the magazine) in this issue lean heavily towards the lyric, and most have a playful sense of language that extends, at times, to their subjects. God, language, and poetry itself are interwoven in much of the work, including Heather McHugh’s clever “Ill-Made Almighty” and Lisa Gluskin’s wonderful “De Profundis.” There are so many exceptional poems I cannot quote from all of them. Do check out Daniel Nester’s “Prodigies” on the 32 Poems web site. Here are a few lines from Jill Osier’s melancholy “Kansas”: “The fields sweat into the air, a mild stew. / The ballplayer rolls over. His sheets are wet.
Mother and daughter come from the garage / leading bony bikes… / The daughter’s arms reach for handlebars. / Pedaling hard, she can imagine wind. / There are stars. This is as dark / intended. This is as light / as she will be…” Also of note in this issue: two humorous poems, Traci Elder O’Dea’s “Pot Luck” and Matt Zambito’s “Keeping it Short & Sweet.” This newer semiannual is one of the places I always check for up-and-coming as well as established talent, a journal that in just a few issues has already established a high standard of excellence. [http://www.32poems.com]
