Editor's Note

Dear Reader,

The Cortland Review's Issue 63 happily introduces Chard DeNiord as its newest Contributing Editor. DeNiord, with a major in religious studies from Lynchburg College, a Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School and an MFA from The Iowa Writers Workshop, worked as a therapist at the Connecticut Mental Health Center, then, having decided to pursue writing and teaching as a career over the ministry, began his teaching career at the Putney School in Vermont, teaching philosophy and comparative religions and, since 1998, has been Professor of English and Creative Writing at Providence College. Expect brilliance in his essays and interviews. He's written four books of poetry and, most recently, a book of essays and interviews with seven senior American poets (Maxine Kumin, Robert Bly, Donald Hall, Jack Gilbert, Lucille Clifton, Galway Kinnell and Ruth Stone) titled Sad Friends, Drowned Lovers, Stapled Song, Conversations and Reflections on 20th Century Poetry. He's been a book reviewer for the Harvard Review since 1993.

How fitting that Chard makes his introduction as Contributing Editor in an issue in which the cover art, "Elements 1," is the work of artist, ceramicist, print maker and teacher, Liz Hawkes DeNiord, his wife. With a sometimes edgy, sometimes sublime painting style, Liz works with viscous acrylics and metals to create intimate abstract works that attempt to understand world conflicts and social issues, even those as close to home as the classroom where she is department head and art instructor in Brattleboro, Vermont. About "Elements I," Hawkes DeNiord says, "In mid winter there is a semi-frozen vapor on the windows in the small upstairs studio where I work. Returning to this piece after a week's absence, that window became the lead into the painting. Knowing when a painting is finished is a delicate decision. This one was suddenly present and done."

More work by Chard can be seen in Issues 36 and Issue 59 and more cover art by Liz's can be seen in Issue 35 and Issue 51.

Poems are windows, too, and The Cortland Review, proudly flings one open to spring and its offerings of new poems by Barbara Ellen Baldwin, John Wall Barger, Andrew Brenza, Anthony DiMatteo, Dana Elkun, Mark W. Fry, Janlori Goldman, Alec Hershman, Lauren Hilger, Richard Jackson, Davy Knittle, Gardner McFall, Mike Puican, Clela Dyess Reed, Lani J. Scozzari, Martha Louise Silano, Nic Walker and Derek JG Williams; short fiction by Richard Hartwell, Dana Inez, Samantha Memi, Douglas W. Milliken and John Woodington; and Resistance And Independence In Contemporary Poetry, an essay by Chard DeNiord.

With special thanks to Liz Hawkes DeNiord, To Chard DeNiord, to each of these poets and writers, and to each member of The Cortland Review staff, whose dedication and good spirit always comes through, and to you, our readers. Especially you.

Cheers,
Ginger Murchison
Editor