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Light (journal)

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Light
Light № 70–71, photo: Lisa Krone
EditorMelissa Balmain (2013–present)
Former editorsJohn Mella (1992–2012)
CategoriesLight verse
Frequencysemiannual issues, plus topical Poems of the Week
PublisherFoundation for Light Verse
Founded1992
First issue2013 (online)
Final issue2012 (print)
CountryUSA
Based inChicago
Websitehttps://lightpoetrymagazine.com/
ISSN1064-8186

Light (formerly Light: A Quarterly of Light Verse) is an online journal which bills itself as "America's oldest and best-known journal of light verse."

History and profile

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Light was founded as a print journal in 1992 by retired postal worker John Mella. Mella personally published the journal until 2008, when he founded the non-profit Foundation for Light Verse with a $500,000 gift from poet Joyce La Mers. The Foundation, headed by Mella, took over publication of the journal.[1] After Mella's death in 2012, the magazine was relaunched as an online-only, semiannual publication, edited by his handpicked successor, poet Melissa Balmain. The all-volunteer staff includes poets Kevin Durkin, Allison Joseph, Julie Kane, and Gail White.

The verse in each issue begins with a feature on a writer of light verse. Sections in between vary from issue to issue, and have included "Spectrum" roundups on types of light verse (Little Willies, "impossible rhymes," etc.); book reviews by Barbara Egel; and an occasional column, "Historical and Hysterical," by A. M. Juster. The magazine has published the verse of Wendy Cope, Thomas M. Disch, X. J. Kennedy, John Updike, and Richard Wilbur, among many others.

Contributors

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Notable contributors include the following:

References

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  1. ^ Miner, Michael (March 18, 2010). "A Windfall for Light Verse". Chicago Reader. Retrieved December 26, 2013.

2. Nicol, Alfred (August 2, 2013), "A New Morning for Light" A New Morning for Light.

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