Magazine review: Wild Plum, Fall and Winter 2017 issue

Before today, I'd never read an issue of Wild Plum.  While I was on their website checking out the 2018 haiku contest, I saw a note stating that the current online issue would be their last one.  I thought I might as well check it out.

Issue 3:2, Fall & Winter 2017, is a big issue.  Behind the awesome cover picture (by Maria Tomczak) are 50+ PDF pages of haiku, senryu, and haiga.

Not being familiary with the journal, I don't know if they have themed issues or solicited topics, but right off the bat this issue seems to center around the idea of aging and the later stages of life.

accepting old age September roses 

- Phyllis Lee

more bruise

than banana

autumn deepens 

- Dave Read

It may be because it's the autumn/winter issue (which makes sense, though I'm not familiar enough with the journal to say for sure) but many of the poems invoke autumn, winter, and deserted places to tell their story.  However, there are some light-hearted poems as well.

washing denims--

peppermint lip gloss

full cycle 

- Jill Lange

Overall, this issue is a great read.  Many of the poems take on a sadder tone, alluding to the end of the magazine's run, but that won't stop you from enjoying them.  There are so many good poems here, it's hard to highlight just a few.  If I had to pick a favorite of the bunch -- which I don't, but I will anyway -- it would be this one:

just one swan

returns this year

. . . ripples on the pond 

- Lesley Anne Swanson

The magazine is laid out nicely, with lots of white space.  The poems are center-justified and spaced evenly on the page, with full-page haiga interwoven with pages of haiku.

Wild Plum issue 3:2 is free to read or download, and can be found online at WildPlumHaiku.wordpress.com.  With the abundance of poetry magazines both online and in print, many good ones get overlooked.  This issue is not one to miss.