CO-EDITORS-IN-CHIEF KRISTIN HOULIHAN & MELISSA ROTERT
Thank you for being here, for reading this issue born of the words and hearts of writers from around the world. I almost wish I could tell you how each piece in this issue, and many others that were not selected, touches my own heart but that would spoil the experience of reading. So instead, I’ll focus my brief remarks here on this: every piece of writing we’ve elected to publish in this, our third issue, has resonated with one or more of our editors in a personal way and it is an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to present them to you, our readers. Our fellow humans on a journey. Because that’s the essence of anticipation, I think—it’s the “what’s next” on our individual journeys. The beauty of a collection like what we’ve curated here is how stunningly obvious it makes our shared humanity. From moments where I gasped because I’ve felt that exact thing to the moments I can’t wrap my head around at all, these pieces, this issues, this entire magazine, remind me that we journey together. We share so many experiences despite our variety of differences, and reading those we don’t share helps to bridge any disconnects or misunderstandings—or at least begin the conversation. Reading the pieces we’ve selected fills my heart with joy, fear, worry, grief, hope and reinforces the gratitude I have for my role in building this beautiful community. So, thank you, again, for being here, for reading, writing, submitting, sharing, and loving.
And join us @EpistemicLit on Twitter/X as we highlight each author and their successes.
– Kristin Houlihan, Co-founder and EIC, Poetry