Fall 2022
Issue Published September 1, 2022

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:

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –
 
            ~Emily Dickinson

Hope is difficult to define, or perhaps it has many definitions. When Archbishop Desmond Tutu died on Dec. 26, 2021, I did some reading about him and found an interview in which a journalist asked the Archbishop why he was optimistic when there was so much trouble in the world. He said he was not optimistic, but rather “a prisoner of hope.” Rev. Tutu went on to say that hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness. In spite of all his adversity, look at how his perseverance gave so much hope, spread so much light.
 
The famous anthropologist and environmentalist, Dr. Jane Goodall, stretches the meaning of hope beyond emotion to include action. While addressing the environmental crisis in The Book of Hope, written with Douglas Abrams, she says: Hope is what enables us to keep going in the face of adversity. It is what we desire to happen, but we must be prepared to work hard to make it so. Hope leads to future success in a way that wishful thinking (and even faith, K.A.) does not.
There is a lot of darkness, but our actions create the light.
 
The light. The hope. Poets and artists have been creating and offering these to the world since time began. May we all continue to pierce the darkness, carry the hope, heal the earth, bring about peace and justice with our words and images. Thank you, contributors, for what you have given in this issue of MPR.      


  From…Still I Rise

​Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.                                                                                    

              ~Maya Angelou
 
Kate, Laura & Jennifer

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Laura, Kate & Jennifer

2. Poems

Editor's Note

Our vision is to publish art, photography and the highest quality of poetry online twice a year drawing on the talents of artists, photographers and poets, especially those in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties.

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

Dr. Jennifer Lagier Fellguth – Editor & Webmaster

Kate Aver Avraham -- Associate Editor
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Laura Bayless -- Associate Editor

Megan Lee – Founder
John Laue – Editor Emeritus
Nicole Henares – Editor Emeritus
Belen Arellano – Graphic Web Design

Learn more about us and how to submit: Click here.

NEW CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS!
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The submission period for poetry, photography and art for the Spring 2023 issue will open on October 1 and run through December 31, 2022. Theme: "Between Seasons." 

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