Winter 2022-23 Editorial

This winter has seen our working class and our earth under continuous attack. The crimes of commerce and the insane barbarity of war cannot be disconnected. The sabotage and destruction of a major Russian undersea pipeline by our country, as exposed by noted investigative journalist Sy Hersh, unleashed 75 miles of pressurized methane into our atmosphere; a crime against the earth that dangerously exacerbates an existential climate crisis already on the breaking point. In our own country, due to years of continuous deregulations, we witness numerous train derailings including the historic toxic disaster in the working class neighborhood of East Palestine, Ohio. This disaster is especially notable for the presence of phosgene - or "nerve gas" along with other deadly, long lasting pollutants. We have to ask why? Stewart Acuff's poem, "Sacrifice Zones" gets to the nitty-gritty that we are all living in toxic sacrifice zones for the enrichment of ruling corporations.

And now, due to deregulation, the banks are failing -- again. Unlike the rest of us, buried in debt just to survive, they will be bailed out -- again.

The poems in this issue describe the bleak realities of life for our laboring, and post-laboring class. We are stuck in a broken system of utter corruption ruled by two corporate parties; one devolved into blatant brutal fascism, and the other run by and for major industries and the casino of finance. This now obvious reality is inspiring resistance from peace activists, workers, women and the other-gendered under assault by religious fanatics and connected fascists. The latter assaults have been labeled a "culture war" by our embedded corporate media. Culture matters and we, as poets and writers play a major role in this struggle. Our words matter more than ever.

This is our annual fundraising issue. We're gratified to be told by readers how moved they are and how their lives have been changed by this humble journal over the last quarter century. Each issue, passed from hand to hand or in treasured collections, continues to affect perspectives. Still, we operate on a meager budget and the costs of everything, from postage to paper and supplies, has risen. Your editors, being near destitute retirees, cannot afford to do this without your support. In this issue you will find a donation slip. We are more than grateful for your support, your words and for the community of poets and writers who continue to be a part of this project.

The final poems in this issue are a post-pandemic wake-up call for many of us who have been stunned into depressed isolation by the pandemic, by the growing threat of impending nuclear annihilation, and by an unfolding climate catastrophe. The latter are a product of the fossil thinking of a leadership blinded by corporate loyalties and myopic delusions of global hegemony. Silence and inaction only benefit the vested destroyers of life and of the living world. As our closing poem, "Apology" by Bill Ayres reminds us, only we, those still alive, can turn this reality around. When awakened united and active around common issues, we are the vast majority and can shut this destructive juggernaut of profit obsessed corruption down. Awakening our class brothers and sisters beyond the disempowering divisions cultivated by our ruling class and rebuilding a culture of militant solidarity is the raison d'etre of this journal. We remain dedicated to continuing to publish words and poetry that matter. We thank you in advance for your support and for the immense power of your words.