Farewell 2014

Dear Friends of Eretz,

2014 was a great year for Songs of Eretz.  Last year, at this time, I made a New Year's resolution to read and present a new poem every day.  There were a few days missed, but I'm going to call that promise kept.

That resolution spawned the Poetry Review in June, which has since published the work of many poets, some of whom have impressive credentials, including:

 

A Former State Poet Laureate

6 Current or Former College/University Professors

An Emerson Prize Winner

A Rannu Fund Speculative Literature Award for Poetry Winner

An SFPA Elgin Chapbook Award Winner

A West Town Press Prize Winner

A Florence Khan Memorial Award Winner

A Red Ribbon Prize Winner

3 Magazine Editors

3 Pushcart Prize Nominees

A Dwarf Star Nominee

Most of the poets published in the Review have had other work published in other prestigious journals.  Many have also had poetry collections published.  And many more are up-and-coming poets whose voices are just beginning to be heard.  

The Review is going strong and here to stay with the work of many poets currently in the queue.  The Review also recently featured its first Poet of the Week, Carolyn Martin, who rapidly achieved "popular post" status from the exposure and promotion.

2015 will herald our first Songs of Eretz Poetry Award Contest winner.  The contest has been extended through January 15, so it is not too late to try to claim that title.  My goal is to make the contest an annual event, perhaps with guest judges, and hopefully for ever increasing amounts of prize money.

There were some sad moments this past year, such as our failed Kickstarter campaign, but we weathered them and emerged stronger.  As the year closes, I want to thank each and every one of you for your encouragement and support.

Happy New Year,

Steve

Steven Wittenberg Gordon

Editor