Blue Heron Review Issue 19 / Spring 2025 Is Now Available to Read Online!

(*Cover artist credit: Karren Jeske)

Welcome to the latest issue of Blue Heron Review (BHR Issue 19, Spring 2025 / “Offerings”).  To read and enjoy our full issue of poetry and artwork, please visit the BHR 19 page of our website.

CONTRIBUTORS:

Poets:
Helen Bournas-Ney * Isaac James Richards * Colette Tennant * CMarie Fuhrman * Giles Goodland * Emily Tee * Arvilla Fee * Pat Phillips West * Fred Briggs * Eileen Pettycrew * Lisa Wiley * Tara Menon * Elena Quinones * Melissa Mitchell * Lori Ulrich * Alice Foxall * Jim Landwehr * Carol Mikoda * William Rudolph * Cortney Davis * Amrita Skye Blaine * Lynette Reini-Grandell * Caitlin Gemmell * John Davis * Laura Barr * Mary Anna Scenga Kruch * Faith Paulsen * Katrina Serwe * Tricia Knoll * Sandra J Lindow * Carol Alena Aronoff * Anita Pinatti

Artists:
Karren Jeske (cover artist) * Michael Jeske * Jeannie E Roberts * Kai Coggin * Donna Hilbert

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Welcome to the spring 2025 issue of Blue Heron Review. Our special theme for this issue is OFFERINGS. Poets were invited to reflect on the topic of what we give (and what we receive), and how this makes a difference in our lives. After having the great pleasure of reading this beautiful collection several times over, I am struck by how many poems involved the tremendous impact that giving has on the person doing the giving—how this, too, becomes a sacred gift. These are brave, vulnerable poems. These are true offerings of self that come from deep waters. I hope that you will take time out of your busy day to taste and savor a few poems at a time, and then come back to read more. I know that you will be moved by these stories of heart and gratitude as much as I am.

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

BHR Issue 17 Fall 2023 / Heart Source & Haven NOW ONLINE!

BHR 17 cover draft2 image

(Cover artist credit: Richard Havenga)

Welcome to the fall issue of Blue Heron Review (BHR 17 / “Heart Source & Haven”). To read and enjoy our full issue of poetry and artwork, please visit the BHR 17 page of our website.

CONTRIBUTORS

Poets:
Cynthia Pratt * Catherine Gonick * Cathy Thwing * Sue Ann Gleason * Terry Jude Miller * Jim Landwehr * Jacqueline Kudler * Pat Phillips West * Jill McGrath * Janet Ruth * Sarah Sadie * Sarah Dickenson Snyder * Judith Sornberger * Ellen Austin-Li * Bonnie Demerjian * Susan Martell Huebner * Kavita Ezekiel Mendonca * Strider Marcus Jones * Nancy Jean Larson * Mary Fitzpatrick * John Grey * Paula Schulz * Mary Trafford * Luanne Castle * Thomas A Thrun * Nancy Austin * Anne Kundtz * Joanne Clarkson * Gary Grossman * Stephen Anderson * Emily Tee * Laura Foley * Scott Ferry * Carol Tahir * Kathrine Yets * Karen A VandenBos * Julie A Dickson * Mary Ray Goehring * Gary Thomas * Jackie Langetieg * Diane Vogel Ferri * Margaret DeRitter * Lisa Ashley * Gail Tirone * Martha Jackson Kaplan * Marsha Owens * Sara Sarna * Paulette Laufer

Artists:
Richard Havenga (cover artist) * Donna Hilbert (featured artist) * Janet Ruth * Paula Lietz * Jeannie E Roberts * Mary Ray Goehring

EDITOR’S NOTE:

I hope that this collection of poetry and artwork provides a welcome space of quiet calm, at a time when our world is in need of repair and peace. In small and gentle ways, may these offerings comfort the heart and mind. This issue is meant to be savored, so take your time. Grab a cup of tea or coffee and settle in. Take some time to hit pause during your day. We hope that you will return again and again to sit with these poems and drink them in.

Kind thoughts,

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

Blue Heron Review Issue 12 (“Nurturing Hope” ) / Spring 2021 Is Now ONLINE!

(Cover art credit: Kathleen Gunton)

*Please visit the BHR 12 Spring 2021 page of our site, to read and view our full collection of poetry and visual art!

CONTRIBUTORS

Poets:

Ryan F Love * Sally Sandler * Rachael Inciarte * Kelly Lenox * Lori Levy * Karen George * Annie Morris * Mary Anna Kruch * Judy DeCroce * Janet Ford * Jean Varda * Amy Beth Acker * Dana Sonnenschein * Mary McCarthy * Sheryl Cornett * Pat Phillips West * Catherine D’Andrea * Penny Harter * Amy L George * Rachel Dacus * Kate Meyer-Currey * Kersten Christianson * Paula Schulz * Cheryl Heineman * Mary C Rowin * Karen Warinsky * Jeannie E Roberts * Maryann Hurtt * Melissa Huff * Marilyn Zelke Windau * Stephen Anderson * Thomas A Thrun * Joan Leotta * Cheryl Byler Keeler * Grace Matson * Patricia Carney * Linda Aschbrenner

Artists:

Kathleen Gunton (Cover Artist) * Janet Ruth * Jeannie E Roberts * Kurt Huebner * Paula Lietz * Karen VandenBos * Sonya Sinha

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Dear Reader,

It is such a great pleasure to share this issue with you!  My goal in opening up Blue Heron Review again for a special bonus issue was to provide writers and readers a chance to surround themselves with the energy of hope and promise after this long pandemic year.  You will find exquisite, fine art photography and beautiful poetry to nurture the soul.  These poems reflect the different experiences people felt moved to share.  Through recognizing your own stories of struggle, resilience, and human connection, I hope that the many tomorrows of 2021 seem a bit brighter. 

With kind thoughts,

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