Editor’s Note: Marcus Bales responded to the CPR’s recent series of articles on Richard Blanco’s Inaugural reading with this poem.   Identity Poetical by Marcus Bales Identity Poet: I am the very model of identity poetical, My bio and my craftsmanship are blankly antithetical. The more that I’m selected for my principal ethnicity The easier [...]

Editor’s Note The Contemporary Poetry Review is pleased to publish selected letters to the magazine, some of which have been edited for content and clarity. The editor can be contacted here. Concerning: Joan Houlihan on First Lines I liked Joan Houlihan’s piece on first lines. How right she is to emphasize their importance. Whether as [...]