Disclaimer: Some of my poems appear in this new issue of Poetry Northwest. Im honored to be included here, and Im super excited to read the new stuff from Richard Kenney (professor of poetry at UW), Joan Swift (who the magazine published in their first issue nearly 60 years ago), J.W. Marshall (owner of Open Books), and Claudia Castro Luna (Seattles first Civic Poet).
Disclaimer: Some of my poems appear in this new issue of Poetry Northwest. I'm honored to be included here, and I'm super excited to read the new stuff from Richard Kenney (professor of poetry at UW), Joan Swift (who the magazine published in their first issue nearly 60 years ago), J.W. Marshall (owner of Open Books), and Claudia Castro Luna (Seattle's first Civic Poet). David Hytone's "Scaffolding"

Poetry Northwest has been publishing voices form this region since 1959. The magazine started with legendary poets Richard Hugo, Carolyn Kizer, and Nelson Bentley at the helm, and through the years successive editors have maintained those poets' adventurous aesthetics. If you don't believe me, you can read fully digitized copies of issues from the magazine's first forty three years over at their recently revamped website.

Today current editor (and teacher, and poet), Kevin Craft, stepped down from the magazine after putting in six years at the top of the masthead. He told me he likes to call himself "the second longest serving editor of Poetry Northwest." I can tell he's got a grin on his face when he writes that: David Wagoner edited the magazine for 36 years, so his record is secure.

I asked him about his proudest accomplishments: "I'm proudest of the innovative way we present poetry on the page—using a big page spread, in dialogue with visual arts and images," he said. "I'm equally proud that I've been able to keep together a core mostly volunteer staff for the entire 6 years. That says something about the loyalty good poetry inspires."

But even as he's stepping down, Craft is also stepping up as executive editor of Poetry NW Editions, a brand new local publishing house.

Craft will lead the press's first series with Sierra Nelson's second full-length book of poems, The Lachrymose Report. The title is already making me happy-sad. Nelson's work combines the scientific with the lyrical in ways that inject wonder back into both disciplines, and it's looking like the new book will be more of the same greatness.

Press materials say that Poetry NW Editions will focus on publishing mid-career poets who have at least one book out. The goal here is to split the gap between larger and local independent publishers and micropresses. What that means for you: More excellent books by people who live close.

Aaron Barrell (who used to be the senior editor) and Erin Malone (an associate editor) will become the new editors of Poetry Northwest, and Rebecca Brinbury will stay on as the managing editor. This crew will come on in full strength in June.