A Brief Summary of My Venture to Republish the Work I Had Lost With the Disappearance of The American Journal of Poetry
Only time will tell if my own poems—selected by Robert Nazarene and James Wilson for their prestigious publication, The American Journal of Poetry—will be remembered or relegated to the dustbin. At this point, I only know that the work did once appear there, and now it longer does. This isn’t just true in my case, but for everyone who ever graced the online platform’s pages. Despite the various—and often intense criticisms—leveled against Robert (I assume the accusations have only increased after the mysterious disappearance of the journal), I continue to stand by him and his publication. He worked tirelessly for the good of poetry. Indeed, his ability to recognize quality writing was evident in what he selected. After all, one can neither argue with a Pushcart Prize (for having published Cecilia Woloch’s long poem, “Reign of Embers”), nor, much less, with a National Book Critic’s Circle Award (for publishing Troy Jollimore’s 2007 collection, Tom Thomson in Purgatory). In my view, Robert Nazarene’s legacy will be hotly contested in the years to come, but I continue to stand by him and his efforts.
Over the course of five or so years, Robert accepted various pieces of mine—some very long and some quite short. His most heartfelt support of my work was his commitment to publishing my long poem, in July 2019, about the Armenian Genocide, before its official recognition by the US government, and its subsequent commemoration by President Biden. Even after the Federal Government’s actions, Turkey continues to deny the event and tries to silence those who aren’t afraid to stand by the truth. Robert, as an editor, was such a man—courageously speaking out in the face of pressure, not just with regards to the Armenian Genocide, but in all aspects of life. Wherever he may be today, thus, and whatever reasons he may have had for not continuing to maintain the archive, I can neither renounce my faith in him as an editor, nor abandon those pieces of mine he published throughout the years. And so, without further ado, here is that work.
Volume 5 (July 1st, 2018)
Poems: “Dear Psychiatrist,” “Smoke and Mirrors,” and “If You Could Be Anyone in the World, Who Would You Be?”
Volume 6 (January 1st, 2019)
Poems: “Dear Russia” (In Three Acts)
Essay: “The Myth of Poetry’s Decline in the US”
Volume 7 (July 1st, 2019)
Poem: “Armenian Genocide”
Volume 8 (January 1st, 2020)
Poem: “PC”
Volume 9 (July 1st, 2020)
Poem: “Heading West”
Volume 10 (January 1st, 2021)
Poem: “American Prayer”
Volume 11 (July 1st, 2021)
Poem: “Open Letter to the Students of Brandeis University with Bibliography”
Poem: “Freewill”
Volume 12 (January 1st, 2022) — THE FINAL ISSUE
Poem: “American Pandemic”
Once more with the kindest gratitude to Robert Nazarene, James Wilson, and everyone who was part of The American Journal of Poetry!