NEW HOPE INTERNATIONAL REVIEW ON-LINE

The Journal (formerly the Journal of Contemporary Anglo-Scandanavian Poetry) is a plain looking A4 booklet with nicely spaced poems from across the world, including in this issue — UK, USA, New Zealand, Nigeria, Russia, Afghanistan and the Netherlands (in Dutch and English). Thisissue also contains reviews and an interview with Jeremy Hilton.

In my mind there is a typical Journal poem, one that is slightly odd in syntax and form and perhaps also in content. This is in no way a criticism, it is what attracts me to The Journal and when this type of poetry works it produces wonderfully memorable imagery, such as the following from RATION by Rupert M Loydell:

			... Shrouded trees
	line the route to an empty playing field
	where skeletons of stories are waiting.

However, whatever may be the typical Journal poem, there is a great variety of form and content — the latter including in this issue: healthcare, suicide, Dick Cheney and various aspects of nature. Although some of the poems aren't quite as successful as others, this issue is packed with quality poems. I particularly liked Dennis Leckey's NO NOT A VILANELLE .. NO 4, which is a delicious meditation on a bowl of fruit, which makes me want to rush out and buy some pineapples!

Susan Richardson's FREYDIS THE UNAFRAID a poem in four parts (though I felt it was four poems on the same theme) very effectively details four different aspects of the character in question. In the final part/poem SLAUGHTER, there is the wonderful image of memory as a sea mammal, diving deep but then teasing with:

	   one flash
	of the underside
	   of its tail.

	I am without mercy.
	I shall record all this,
	File it away: data 
	Is most valuable.

	No feather will ever fall
	as heavily as yellow rose petals 
	into the grave.

There are several other excellent poems here, and overall this issue for me struck the balance of being interesting and experimental while avoiding the obscure and unnecessarily difficult. Add to the excellent selection of poetry, some interesting and insightful reviews and The Journal is a must for anyone who loves poetry and is not afraid of a bit of experimentation and the new insights that this can bring.