Hello Dear Readers,

This is the first time I’ve had a minute to put together a digest since September. I’ve been negotiating a number of major life events, including a few health challenges and a career change. It’s been trying, but I’m the better for having gone through them and am happy to return once again to my passion project.

I am also happy to announce that submissions are once again open. In addition to taking poems for the weekly Zingara Poetry Pick, I am asking for poems to publish during National Poetry Month. If enough poems are received to post a poem every day, I will so. If not, I will just post however many I can. If, on the other hand, I receive more than I can fit into a month’s time, I will post them at other times of the year. So, please send your best work and tell all your poet friends. Open slots will fill quickly. Submission guidelines, which you should review, can be found here.  Please mention in your cover letter if you are submitting for National Poetry Month or for the regular feature.

Now on to this month’s fine selection of  truly wonderful poetry by talented poets who have generously shared their work and talent with Zingara Poetry Review.

• The month of November kicked off with the memorable “Dikaryote” by Yu-Han Chau, which was followed by the stunning “Where the Peaches Are Always Ripe” by Kim Baker and the pithy, and timely, “Change of Heart” by Marian Shapiro.
• “The Last Massacre in My Lonely Notebook” by David Spicer ushered in the Thanksgiving holiday and “November, 1993” by Jen Powers satisfyingly rounded out the month.
• December featured six poems, four regular picks and two holiday features. They included: “Snow Day” by Janet Reed, which practically predicted that many of us would have a white Christmas this year;  “Wild Onions” by Susan Carman and”Barnwork We Didn’t Talk Much About” by Charles A. Swanson. Christmas day arrived on the heels of “Careless” by Andrew Clark and “Eight of Cups” by Toti O’Brien. The month, and year, closed with the very popular “If You See Me Dancing” by Jan Day published on New Year’s Eve.
• Notable articles posted since last September include: 13 Ways to Sabotage Your Writing Practice, and 13 More Ways to Sabotage Your Writing Practice.
• For teachers in the groups, I also included a list of 6 Literary Journals Seeking Work from Undergraduate Students.