Thomas Gray said, "Poetry is thoughts that breathe and

words that burn." Others may say that poets are Dreamers

and Drifters living among their imaginings that Jitter

and Shimmer. Some consider poetry to be the Helium

of human Creation, allowing us to rise like the voices

singing Old Time Music and Sacred Songs in unison.

Whatever brought you to this anthology, we welcome you

to experience the thoughts expressed in the words of these

ten Missouri poets.

It has been a joy to sample the variety and breadth of talent

represented here. Poetry allows each writer a vehicle of

self-expression, allows the reader a window into the poet's

sensibilities. Whether an expression of joy as in Barbara

Leonhard's poem, Early Spring Snow, "still, the birds will

sing.....as though they are free". Or Anand Prahlad's self-

reflection in Mana, "I am myself the dance of no movement/

sunrise on the desert", poetry has a way of calling us to

ourselves.

Poets ask uncomfortable questions, make statements of

truth we may wish to ignore as Aurora Athelyn does in

her poem The Four Seasons on Lana'i - "CATTLE XING

sign hangs obsolete, reminding the island what happens

to invasive species". Terry Allen reflects on his brother's

transition to assisted living in Flying Squirrels Can't Really

Fly, "His memories thin fragments of torn fabric".

Then there are the reminiscent ramblings of Ben Kuzemka,

as he lays his thoughts of Madelyn "who would have killed

Kobe to be Kobe" on the page. And Nancy Jo Allen's

expression of loss in her poem, The Day She Was Born, "...

she survived, but is now separated from me without a life

line". Walter Bargen, Missouri's first poet laureate proclaims,

"in the house of words, your tongue is a hammer" in his

poem, Home Crucifixion #1.

In Rough-Cut Elegies, my fellow Missouri poets have

shared their hearts, their souls and this anthology invites

you into their worlds. I guarantee you will find a poem

you love, a poet you want to hear more from and a deep

appreciation of the poets of Missouri. Thank you, Jason

Ryberg and Spartan Press. It has been an honor.

-Sharon SingingMoon