NEW HOPE INTERNATIONAL REVIEW ON-LINE

ORBIS is a quality journal, with contributions from authors from all parts of the English-speaking world, and with a broad international appeal. This particular issue has contributions from forty-four poets-which is a very substantial range in a publication of only eighty pages, and which includes large sections devoted to other matters.

The poetry itself is often excellent, and in keeping with the upward spiral that characterizes a sound editorial policy (good judgment building a reputation, that in turn draws readers and further talented writers), it is a journal that can be relied upon to offer something of interest. Indeed, it is very frequently a venue credited by the authors of collections as having been among their early supporters. Some of the highlights in this issue include Oz Hardwick's prose poem MS POPYNJAY AND THE RAGGED CROW, and Madeleine M. Stein's SLOW MAN IN A GREEK RESTAURANT:

	Again and again like a favourite movie
	The history of his island from beginning to end,
	Unfurling not from day to day, but
	Each moment, a now, the windmill locked and spinning,
	Sheeted and bare, gold mines there and lost,
	His patience outmeaning patience.

	... I imagine the chiseling
	of names, the impact of metal on metal,
	the stones resistance mirrored in theirs,
	and over still furrows empty of crops,
	their spirits, dark birds, flying Eastwards.

Still, quibbles aside, ORBIS is a finely-crafted publication, valuable for its contribution to the living art of poetry, and valuable as a resource to that art's practitioners. Given its scope and quality, it is also very reasonably priced as well.

A very pleasant-looking magazine with excellent production. They seem to ha good relationship with their readers, who contribute to a forum that mixes letter column with a poll on the previous issue with a fair bit of goodnatured banter on both sides.

Three poems really stood out for me. Firstly there was WHERE THERE IS NO GRAVITY by Lydia Fulleylove:

	water can be wrapped around your hands
	stones drift out over the ocean
	electricity cannot be earthed
	and
	there's no difference
	between a light and heavy heart.

	Clerihew
	Cliché ... cliché — you are an accident waiting to happen!
	Correlative
	Cooper-Clarke — sunglasses off in school, boy.
	Dactyl
	Dipthong — late again.

	The 1940 Remington Portable, say,
	with thos ingenious crank-up keyes.
	Or stylish postwar Smith & Corona

Following the previous long run of issues by Mike Shields, there have been many changes to the balance of Orbis. Somehow this successful magazine has broadened to include a wider range of enticements to subscribers, keeping well alive its sections on poetry, competitions, reviews, prose and magazine listings. I found the last much expanded into too-longish reviews of contents and requirements, while book reviews by individuals were obviously tailored down monotonously to about 6 lines per review followed by a long list acknowledging 'other books received' and in my opinion failed to give full scope to the reviewer.

The poetry in general was light and undemanding, nothing majestic or spiritually taxing, although there were clever twists within subject limits. Some amusing or otherwise noteworthy poems were ANNOUNCEMENT (John Gilham), NO SORRY CHAPTER (Robert Roberts), A TRULY TRAGICALL HISTORY (David Holliday), HOW TO CARRY A LADDER (Philip Hancock). The last I liked best and quote the end lines:

	Rest it upon the clavicle,
	allow it to settle, horizontal.   
	Fist a rung, the weight is easy to support.
 
	Traipse like an ape through long grass.
	Reach your arm around it, let the other one swing
	by your side. Beware of washing lines.
 
	Become a crucifix or a windmill.