Light (journal)
 Light № 70–71, Winter 2010–2011 | |
| Editor | Melissa Balmain (2013–present) |
|---|---|
| Former editors | John Mella (1992–2012) |
| Categories | Light verse |
| Frequency | Quarterly |
| Publisher | Foundation for Light Verse |
| Paid circulation | 750–850 |
| Year founded | 1992 |
| Country | USA |
| Website | http://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 John Mella. 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 Melissa Balmain. The all-volunteer staff includes poets Kevin Durkin, Julie Kane, Bob McKenty, and Gail White.
The verse in each issue begins with a feature on a writer of light verse. Sections in between vary from issue to issue and may be organized by author, or according to themes. A recurring column called "Historical and Hysterical" was introduced by poet A. M. Juster in Summer '13. The magazine has included the verse of Wendy Cope, Tom Disch, X. J. Kennedy, John Updike, and Richard Wilbur, among many others.
Contributors
Notable contributors include the following:
- Melissa Balmain
- Bruce Bennett (poet)
- Maureen Cannon
- William Rossa Cole
- Wendy Cope
- Alma Denny
- Paul Dickey
- Tom Disch
- Rhina P. Espaillat
- Willard R. Espy
- Gavin Ewart
- Daniel Galef
- 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
- Mae Scanlan
- Jim Siergey
- William Jay Smith
- W. D. Snodgrass
- William Stafford
- A.E. Stallings
- Timothy Steele
- John Updike
- Gail White
- John Whitworth
- Richard Wilbur
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.