Blue Heron Review Pushcart Prize Nominations

Congratulations to all of our poets nominated for a Pushcart Prize this year! It is always very difficult to choose just 6 poems. I am so proud of the very fine work published in every single issue of Blue Heron Review! I hope you enjoy browsing our 2 issues from 2025, to read all of the beautiful, thoughtful selections.

—Cristina M. R. Norcross
Editor, Blue Heron Review

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From BHR Issue 19 / Spring 2025
(*To read the selections below, please visit the BHR Issue 19 page. Simply scroll down to find the work of each author within the issue)

Helen Bournas-Ney / “A Prayer for My Granddaughter”
Mary Anna Scenga Kruch / “When Souls Find Comfort: Ode to a Lake”
Faith Paulsen / “I Imagine Hildegard von Bingen Finds an Egg”

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From BHR Issue 20 / Fall 2025
(*To read the selections below, please visit the BHR Issue 20 page. Simply scroll down to find the work of each author within the issue.)

Dianna MacKinnon Henning / “Scent of Solitude”
Alison Hurwitz / “To the Man Playing Bach for a Pair of Ducks”
Sarah Sadie / “The Only Argument with Time That Wins”

BLUE HERON REVIEW ISSUE 20 / FALL 2025 IS NOW AVAILABLE TO READ ONLINE!

(*Cover artist credit: Michael Jeske)

Welcome to the latest issue of Blue Heron Review (BHR Issue 20 / Fall 2025 / “What We Gather for Tomorrow”). To read and enjoy our full issue of poetry and artwork, please visit the BHR 20 page of our website.

CONTRIBUTORS:

Poets:
Yvette Viets Flaten * Cheryl Byler Keeler * Glenn Falacienski * Carol Alena Aronoff * Ronnie Hess * Annette Towler * Jackie Langetieg * Dianna MacKinnon Henning * James P Roberts * Cynthia McCain * Rachel Dacus * Diana Woodcock * Alison Hurwitz * Mary C Rowin * Anneliese Finke * Elizabeth McCarthy * Jenna Wysong Filbrun * Karen A VandenBos * Susan Martell * Sarah Sadie * Kathie Giorgio * Wendy Vardaman * Melissa Huff * Penny Harter * Tom Lagasse * Erik Richardson * Thomas A Thrun * Elisabeth Harrahy * Mary Dean Carter

Artists:
Michael Jeske (cover artist) * Karen A VandenBos * j lewis * Paula Lietz

EDITOR’S NOTE:

What if we could gather together the support that others need, compassion for those around us, empathy for the plight of others? The poems in our latest issue may not solve the world’s problems, but If nothing else, you will feel encouraged and find a sense of hope here.  The arts have the power to inspire us during challenging times. I hope that this issue makes you feel less alone and more connected to your fellow human beings.

Cristina M. R. Norcross, Editor
Blue Heron Review
(*Founded 2013)

BHR Issue 18  Spring 2024 / Transformation & Change NOW ONLINE!

BHR18 cover art image w text LG

(*Cover artist credit: Fiona Capuano)

Welcome to the spring issue of Blue Heron Review (BHR 18 / “Transformation & Change”). To read and enjoy our full issue of poetry and artwork, please visit the BHR 18 page of our website.

CONTRIBUTORS:

Poets:
Carolyn Chilton Casas * Emily Tee * Diana Woodcock * Susan Scheid * Karen Elizabeth Sharpe * Ann Bodling * Jill Michelle * Judy Lorenzen * Melissa Huff * Jo Taylor * Helen Patrice * Cynthia Knorr * Katrina Serwe * Tova Kranz * Jocelyn Boor * Dianna Mackinnon Henning * Patricia Nelson * Lynne Burnett * Stacy Ooi * Kathleen Deyer Bolduc * Jeannie E Roberts * Karen Paul Holmes * Lynne Carol Austin * Kirstin Eventyr * Cheryl Keeler * Sharon Fabriz * Angela Hoffman * Katherine H Maynard * Kathy Whitham * Suzanna C de Baca * Thomas John Hurley * Bobbie Lee Lovell * James P Roberts * Alison Hurwitz * Andrea Potos * Kristen Baum DeBeasi

Artists:
Fiona Capuano (cover artist) * Karen A VandenBos * Kris Gould * Scott Ferry * Kimberly Blaeser

EDITOR’S NOTE:
Welcome to the spring 2024 issue of Blue Heron Review. Our special theme for this issue is Transformation & Change. Poets were invited to reflect on the many different ways in which transformation can impact our lives, whether it be in our relationships with others, with ourselves, the environment, or society as a whole. I hope that you can take some time over the coming days and weeks to sip and savor these heart-centered poems, and perhaps think about the significance of change in your own life. Thank you for being a BHR reader! We appreciate you being here with us.

All kind thoughts,

Cristina M. R. Norcross, Editor
Blue Heron Review
(*founded 2013)