ADVANCE WARNING:  THE SUBMISSIONS PORTAL WILL BE CLOSED FROM MARCH 15th UNTIL MAY 31st. THIS IS TO ENABLE THE SPECIAL CELEBRATION ISSUE OF 100 ISSUES TO BE ASSEMBLED AND FOR THE CHANGE OF EDITORSHIP. PLEASE BEAR WITH US.

Editorial
Poems:  John Chinaka Onyoche, Michael Higgs, Kieran Furey, Harry Owen,
Christine Curtis, Madhu Kailas,  Roger Harvey.

Dancing in the Dark – Simon Fletcher.

Poems: KittyDonnelly, Anne Ballard, Probal Mazumdar, Robert Hamberger,
James Dowthwaite, Lorna Dowell, Niall M. Oliver, Antony Mair.

Inspiration ‒ Peter Phillips.

Poems: Jonathan Tulloch, Frances Anne King, Susan Taylor, Michael Higgs,
Jean Stevens, Jill Boucher, Kris Spencer.

The Modern Resurrectionist ‒ Taylor Strickland.

Poetry in Translation ‒ Alasdair mac Mhaighstir Alasdair (Taylor Strickland), Georg Heym
(Denis Tomlinson), Marc Tritsmans (John Irons), Giovanni Angelini
(Angela Kent), Federico Garcia Lorca (Ranald Barnicot).

Poems: Freddie Godliman, Phil Walsh, Wendy Klein, Kathleen McPhilemy,
Deborah Mason, Alwyn Marriage, Frances Sackett.

Responses.

Poems: Malcolm Povey, Probal Mazumdar, Barbara Cumbers, Sheila Aldus,
Michael Bartholomew Biggs, Susan Antonia Kearton, Anne Ballad.

Vision and Revision in William Oxley ‒ Sam Cotton.

Poems: Kathryn Daszkiewicz, Liz Diarmond, William Thierfelder, David
Perman, Alwyn Marriage, Norbert Hirschhorn, Tom Montag, Roger Harvey.

Reviews: Edmund Prestwich, Malcolm Bradley, Belinda Cooke, Nigel
Jarrett, Patricia Oxley, ElenaBogomolova, Glyn Pursglove.

Poetry Comment: Glyn Pursglove.

Editorial:  no 99

As I publish this 99th issue of Acumen Literary Journal, it is, I feel, natural that I look at the previous issues, as well as looking forward to the celebration of the hundredth issue. I was in my early forties when I started to think about editing a magazine and I will have passed my eightieth birthday by the time the centenary issue is published.
There have been rumours about the fate of Acumen in the future: rumours ranging from its disappearance altogether to continuing under its present editorship, to being taken over or merged with another magazine. I have also been wondering about this over the past few years, let alone months.
So perhaps it is time to own up. Thankfully, Acumen will not be disappearing, nor will it continue under its present editor. I feel honoured that its long-time Advisory Editor, Danielle Hope, is taking over the helm. Danielle has been a great help over the past few years, and there is nobody I feel more apt to carry on the traditions of the magazine but with a younger and better knowledge of the modern scene.
I have always admired Danielle’s own work. She has an honesty about her poetry, a great use of words and a warm friendship for poets and poetry. Those who know her will be delighted, to those to whom she is more of an unknown quantity, I am sure you will come to appreciate her friendly judgements which will enhance the magazine, along with her translations and poetic knowledge. There is no-one I would be happier to hand over to than her. This change has been under discussion for some time and, I have to add, that William was totally in favour of it and gave Danielle his blessing too.
So having got over confession time, can I ask you all to support Danielle, starting by continuing your subscription to the magazine and by entering the Acumen poetry international competition, all details of which are on the flier enclosed with this issue