Wordgathering

A Journal of Disability Poetry

Volume 4     Issue 3     September 2010

Each new issue of Wordgathering seems to seek a theme of its own and this issue is no exception. This time, a number of pieces seem to cluster around art and ekphrastic poetry. Diane Kendig's essay introduces the reader to Maria Blanchard, a Spanish artist who would have been considered disabled, had the term been around during her lifetime, Kendig's essay illuminates both Blanchard's life and her own poem based upon researching the artist. Ona Gritz provdes an essay on her experience with the work of a more familiar artist – Frida Kahlo. Kendig, Gritz and poet Sheila Black all contribute poems on Kahlo as well.

The interview for the September issue is Liz Whiteacre, the winner of the 2010 Inglis House Poetry Contest. In addition to poems by Whiteacre, we are joined again by old friends Jimmy Burns, Barbara Crooker, Nancy Scott and Ellen Williams. There are quite a few first timers as well including Chirstopher Jon Heuer, Barry Horon, Elaine Jones, Jean McLeod, Stephen Mead and Arbin Tabao. Kathi Wolfe, whose work is familiar to many of our readers gives us two new poems and an essay discussing the transition from her book on Helen Keller to a more modern poetry avatar. The final essay is by Ellen Williams.

As always, book reviews are an important part of Wordgathering. This time around we take a look at three new works. South African poet and playwright Kobus Moolman has put together a collection of works by writers with disabilities from his country. Poet Elizabeth Glixman, a previous Inglis House Poetry contest winner has a new chapbook. Finally, Raymond Luczak returns with his latest book – this time a novel. In addition to the review, we also offer excerpts from two books. The first is from The Language of Me, an autobiographical work by Musa Zulu, one of the writers included in Moolman's anthology. The second is the first chapter of Jonathan Chiccino's debut science fiction novel, The Penumbra Chronicles.

Since its beginning almost three years ago, Wordgathering has publish over 150 poets. While it is always a good to thing to get public exposure to your work by having it appear in an online journal, the poets who have been published here know that exposure is the only real payment that they get for their work since Wordgathering is truly a non-profit journal. This time, however, the editors thought it might me interesting to offer a nominal payment to the poet who wrote the poem that readers considered their favorite with a $25 prize. To vote for your favorite poem, just send us an email at comments@Wordgathering.com. Put "Best Poem" in the subject line. Be sure to include the name of the poem, the poet and why you liked it. Of course, while you are writing you can also tell us about other poems, essays, excerpts or book reviews that you liked. We will announce the winner in the next issue.

artist in wheelchair is painting water

In the July issue of Wordgathering the winners of the 2010 Inglis House Poetry Contest were announced. Now Their Buuoyant Bodies Respond a chapbook of the best poetry submitted to the contest, is available for $5. Mail to:

Inglis House Poetry Workshop
2600 Belmont Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19131

or inquire by email at inglispoetry@hotmail.com.

Do you have a new book out that you want others to know about or have you had other disability related poems published? Let us know. Wordgathering is on Twitter and will be glad to tweet out or retweet your announcements. You can find us at http://twitter.com/wordgathering . For those on Facebook, we have also provided a Wordgathering page on Facebook where you can feel free to post any news about your literary endeavors, just comment on writing in general or connect with other writers whose work you may have seen. Someone needs to be the first to post. It might as well be you.

The Editors

This site is maintained by Michael Northen.