Just received the Spring/Summer issue of The Journal of the Academy of American Poets.  In addition to poems by Kwame Dawes, Marie Howe, and Aimee Nezhukumatathil, there are essays by Jane Hirshfield and Jenny Xie, a conversation, “Why Poetry, Why Now?” between Elizabeth Alexander and Maria Popova, and a selection of “Books Noted” by Major Jackson.  A good read and one of the best resources for becoming better acquainted with the range of contemporary American poetry. If you’re not already a subscriber and want to learn more, visit www.poets.org.

Congratulations to Kim Reyes, winner of the first annual Kay Boyle Poetry of Witness Award for her poem, “The Body.”  The contest was judged by Paul Hoover, Acting Director of the Poetry Center at San Francisco State University. Reyes, who is completing her MFA in Creative Writing at SFSU, has “just received an offer of her first book publication by noted Bay Area publisher, Omnidawn Publishing,” according to Hoover.

The National Association for Poetry Therapy will take place April 26 – 29 in Chaska, MN.  This year’s theme is “Poetry Therapy in a Changing World: Pathways to Growth, Healing, and Social Justice.”  Visit www.poetrytherapy.org.