It is an honor to curate Blue Heron Review and bring you a beautiful selection of thought-provoking, meditative poetry. I am proud of all of our talented contributors. I wish I could have nominated more than just 6 authors for the upcoming Best of the Net Anthology.  It is always very difficult to choose. Please join me in celebrating the work of these fine writers. The following nominees appear in either BHR Issue 20 / Fall 2025 or BHR Issue 21 / Spring 2026.

Visit the BHR 20 and BHR 21 pages of this site to read all of these beautiful poems. Simply scroll down to find the work of each author within the issue.

Nominations for BHR 20 / Fall 2025

Alison Hurwitz / “To the Man Playing Bach for a Pair of Ducks”

Sarah Sadie / “The Only Argument with Time That Wins”

Cynthia McCain / “Holy ritual”

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Nominations for BHR 21 / Spring 2026

David Anson Lee / “What the World Keeps Teaching Me”

Ellen Rowland / “All the Ways to Name a Dragonfly”

Jenna Wysong Filbrun / “No Matter What Happens”

I hope you enjoy revisiting these poems, and all of the stunning selections, from the two issues listed above.

Cristina M. R. Norcross
Founding Editor
Blue Heron Review