Fall 2017
Issue Published September 15, 2017

This issue is organized in two sections; scroll down the page or click the links below to jump to a section:

1. Introduction
2. Poems

1. Introduction

To Readers of Monterey Poetry Review:

Here’s this issue of MPR’s work in no particular order:

The nature poems of Jennifer Lagier with her splendid photography and “Forest” of Ruth Mota, so dense with images it reminds me of Dylan Thomas---

The astronaut musings of Michael Atkinson (I have a special connection to astronauts from being a childhood camper with Buzz Aldrin)---

The love songs of Bill Minor (“the rich kiss of espresso”) his Lara poem being the most mysterious and memorable to me while John Dotson defines love by telling what it isn’t---

Musings on war, motherhood, and doubt by Marina Romani and feminist Emily Bording’s women “Holding Up the Sky”---

Cynthia Bryant’s beach town Shangri-La and Panel Alden’s   skillfully portrayed and lively beach---

Dane Cervine’s Asian poems and John Schatz’s Green Japanese Umbrella that I’ve heard him read and enjoyed over the years--

The mother poem of Gale Acuff (I’ll never forget “I wish I had my mommy!”), Thea Crossly’s “The Right Moment” about an aged mother, Dan Cervine’s poem about an aged father, and Illia Thompson’s poem honoring her late husband---

Jessica Cohn’s powerful birds and Dee Myer’s coyote---

Victor Henry’s compassionate portrait of a homeless man that relates in my mind to George Lober’s response to poetry’s challenges in “Ancestry” and “Phenomenal”--

Andrena Zawinski’s profound, accomplished lyricism in “Another Summer’s End” and “When” that stands up to any test---

Heidi McGurrin’s “Piano Shoes” which reminds me of Bill Minor’s musical works (He’s a musician as most of you know)--

And last, Robin Lysne’s midnight musings of an editor who encourages writers of all kinds to bare their souls (I know those tropes)--
​
If all these poems were flowers they’d make a diverse and beautiful bouquet, one wonderfully scented that would bloom for years and nourish whole skies full of bees and butterflies. 

 
 John

 

2. Poems

• Gale Acuff
• Penel Alden
• Michael Atkinson
• Emily Bording
• Cynthia Bryant
• Dane Cervine
• Jessica Cohn
• Thea Crossley
• John Dotson
• Victor Henry
• Jennifer Lagier
• George Lober
• Robin Lysne
• Heidi McGurrin
• Bill Minor
• Ruth Gunn Mota
• Dee Myers
• Doren Robbins
• Marina Romani
• John Schatz
• Illia Thompson
• Andrena Zawinski

​

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Editor's Note

Our vision is to publish the highest quality of poetry online in succeeding issues from the many talented poets in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, as well as from poets anywhere with a connection to the Monterey Peninsula.

Please note that we are no longer a tax-deductible organization as before, and although we welcome donations to pay the renewal fees of about $200.00 for the website each year, our financial needs are much smaller than when we were a print publication.

The Monterey Poetrey Review is made possible by the following volunteers:

Megan Lee – Founder and Editor
John Laue – Editor
Nicole Henares – Consultant
Jennifer Lagier – Webmaster
Belen Arellano – Graphic Web Design

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