Thomas Gray said, "Poetry is thoughts that breathe and words that burn. " Others may say that poets are Dreamers and Drifters living among their imaginings that Jitter and Shimmer.

Some consider poetry to be the Helium of human Creation, allowing us to rise like the voices singing Old Time Music and Sacred Songs in unison. Whatever brought you to this anthology, we welcome you to experience the thoughts expressed in the words of these ten Missouri poets.

It has been a joy to sample the variety and breadth of talent represented here. Poetry allows each writer a vehicle of self-expression, allows the reader a window into the poet's sensibilities.

Whether an expression of joy as in Barbara Leonhard's poem, Early Spring Snow, "still, the birds will sing. .

. .

. as though they are free".

Or Anand Prahlad's self-reflection in Mana, "I am myself the dance of no movement/sunrise on the desert", poetry has a way of calling us to ourselves. Poets ask uncomfortable questions, make statements of truth we may wish to ignore as Aurora Athelyn does in her poem The Four Seasons on Lana'i - "CATTLE XING sign hangs obsolete, reminding the island what happens to invasive species".

Terry Allen reflects on his brother's transition to assisted living in Flying Squirrels Can't Really Fly, "His memories thin fragments of torn fabric". Then there are the reminiscent ramblings of Ben Kuzemka, as he lays his thoughts of Madelyn "who would have killed Kobe to be Kobe" on the page.

And Nancy Jo Allen's expression of loss in her poem, The Day She Was Born, ". .

. she survived, but is now separated from me without a life line".

Walter Bargen, Missouri's first poet laureate proclaims, "in the house of words, your tongue is a hammer" in his poem, Home Crucifixion #1. In Rough-Cut Elegies, my fellow Missouri poets have shared their hearts, their souls and this anthology invites you into their worlds.

I guarantee you will find a poem you love, a poet you want to hear more from and a deep appreciation of the poets of Missouri. Thank you, Jason Ryberg and Spartan Press.

It has been an honor. -Sharon SingingMoon.