Light (journal)
Editor | Melissa Balmain (2013–present) |
---|---|
Former editors | (1992–2012) |
Categories | Light verse |
Frequency | semiannual issues, plus topical Poems of the Week |
Publisher | Foundation for Light Verse |
Year founded | 1992 |
Country | USA |
Based in | Chicago |
Website | https://lightpoetrymagazine.com/ |
ISSN | 1064-8186 |
Light (formerly Light: A Quarterly of Light Verse) is an online journal which bills itself as "America's oldest and best-known journal of light verse."
History and profile[]
Light was founded as a print journal in 1992 by retired postal worker . Mella personally published the journal until 2008, when he founded the non-profit Foundation for Light Verse with a $500,000 gift from poet Joyce La Mers. The Foundation, headed by Mella, took over publication of the journal.[1] After Mella's death in 2012, the magazine was relaunched as an online-only, semiannual publication, edited by his handpicked successor, poet . The all-volunteer staff includes poets , Allison Joseph, Julie Kane, and .
The verse in each issue begins with a feature on a writer of light verse. Sections in between vary from issue to issue, and have included "Spectrum" roundups on types of light verse (Little Willies, "impossible rhymes," etc.); book reviews by Barbara Egel; and an occasional column, "Historical and Hysterical," by A. M. Juster. The magazine has published the verse of Wendy Cope, Tom Disch, X. J. Kennedy, John Updike, and Richard Wilbur, among many others.
Contributors[]
Notable contributors include the following:
- Maureen Cannon
- William Rossa Cole
- Wendy Cope
- Alma Denny
- Paul Dickey
- Tom Disch
- Rhina P. Espaillat
- Willard R. Espy
- Gavin Ewart
- David Galef
- Charles Ghigna
- Dana Gioia
- Albert Goldbarth
- R.S. Gwynn
- Donald Hall
- Julie Kane
- A. M. Juster
- X. J. Kennedy
- James Kirkup
- Richard Kostelanetz
- Joyce La Mers
- Felicia Lamport
- James Laughlin
- J. Patrick Lewis
- Amit Majmudar
- William Matthews
- Bob McKenty
- Susan McLean
- John Frederick Nims
- Jack Prelutsky
- Maurice Sagoff
- Jim Siergey
- William Jay Smith
- W. D. Snodgrass
- William Stafford
- A.E. Stallings
- Timothy Steele
- John Updike
- John Whitworth
- Richard Wilbur
- David Yezzi
References[]
- ^ Miner, Michael (March 18, 2010). "A Windfall for Light Verse". Chicago Reader. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
2. Nicol, Alfred (August 2, 2013), "A New Morning for Light" A New Morning for Light.
External links[]
- Biannual magazines published in the United States
- Defunct literary magazines published in the United States
- Magazines established in 1992
- Magazines disestablished in 2012
- Magazines published in Chicago
- Online literary magazines published in the United States
- Online magazines with defunct print editions
- Poetry magazines published in the United States
- Quarterly magazines published in the United States