A stunning new journal dedicated to the short poem in English, Noon arrived in my mailbox two days ago. The first impression one gets is of the quality and care that editor Philip Rowland incorporated into the material side of the magazine. Each copy is hand-bound with string in the old Japanese style and comes in a plastic slip-case. Both the cover and body of the magazine are printed on washi paper–wonderful to touch and the type-face is easy on the eyes. Lay-out is cleanly, and simply, done. This is, in short, a beautiful vehicle in which to show-case work that ranges through English language haiku, translations, prose-poems, visual poetry, two word “novels,” concrete poetry, and short lyrics. There are many fine poems in this first issue, including offerings from Sheila Murphy, John Phillips, and Bob Arnold, but pride of place has to be given to the two poets that editor Rowland positions at the beginning and end of the volume: the late Morris Cox, whose name is new to me, and Thomas A. Clark. Mr. Clark gives us two wonderful poems that I would like to reprint in full:

trembling of the leaves
trembling of the water
trembling of the light
thrown back by water

*

a ladder against
a quince tree
leading up into
leaves and fruit

*

Both of these tiny poems are freighted with Blake’s “minute particulars.” The utter simplicity, yet the rhythmic and visual components of the first, and the resonating specificity of the second are utterly engaging. All of this is priced by Mr. Rowland at a modest five pounds or $8.00 with two pounds or three dollars shipping and handling.

Both submissions and orders may be sent to:

Noon
Philip Rowland
Seijo 8-23-21-510
Setagaya-ku
Tokyo 157-0066
Japan.

Email: noon@jj.e-mansion.com

A second arrival was Philip Rowland’s own haiku/short poem sequence together still from Hub Editions/ Longholm/East Bank/Wingland/Sutton Bridge/Spalding/ Lincolnshire UK/ PE129YS.

This sequence is filled with fine short poems including, among my favorites:

full of sake
stumbling
upon stars

*

sitting in the sun
knowing nothing
and still knowing nothing

*

snow

man’s

vows

*

shadowless
all–
one bird
flying through the blizzard

*

There are many more powerful poems that take us through death, jealousy, despair, and leave us, finally, with a grace note. No price was given for this volume, but I imagine a note to Mr. Rowland will give the interested party that information as well.