Eight Poets and a Photographer

The Dead Mule is publishing a special poetry edition this fall.

In this issue, we have a chapbook Seven Stars by Dale Wisely, editor of Right Hand Pointing and web master for Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty, the organization whose chairman was Darrell B. Grayson, until he was executed July 26 at Holman Prison in Alabama. The Mule published Grayson’s chapbook Holman’s House, earlier this year, and we retain a link on our home page. Wisely says, Seven Stars tells a story that contains “history, truth, dubious memories, and lies.” I say, it contains experiences many of us have “lived.”

Also today, we have three poems from Carter Monroe. If you don’t know Carter, you don’t read the Mule, but we’ll forgive you, if you start now. Read Carter’s poems published earlier this year on the Mule and an interview with Tim Peeler on Thunder Sandwich.

The south is a diverse region. We hope the Mule’s choice of poets reflects this diversity and our desire to unite around our shared southernness; the Mule is a family not a publication credit. Both Dale Wisely and Carter Monroe have been in the Mule previously. So has Tim Peeler. The other poets are new to the family.

In this issue, we have Jilly Dybka, Ross White, Leslie Joseph, Jessie Carty, Evie Shockley (poetry and interview), and Tim Peeler still to be published between now and November 20. Val’s doing the rest of the editing, so it’ll be interesting to see who show up next.*

The photograph on the Mule home page, taken by Bill Losse, my husband and the Mule’s featured photographer, is entitled, “When Diversity Works.” Diversity doesn’t always work, but it can. All of the photos in this issue were taken by Bill on our recent trip to Missouri and Iowa. Bill is also a computer programmer.

* I can “cheat” by looking, but I won’t be telling, when I do look. We’ll try to notify poets before publication. Please remember Val has had two epidural treatments and will have the third next Tuesday, and keep her in your prayers, if you’re the praying kind. Val’s health is more important than anyone’s expectations from the Mule. Of this, I kid you not.

Embracing the Universe by Henri Nouwen

Living a spiritual life makes our little, fearful hearts as wide as the universe, because the Spirit of Jesus dwelling within us embraces the whole of creation. Jesus is the Word, through whom the universe has been created. As Paul says: “In him were created all things in heaven and on earth: everything visible and everything invisible – all things were created through him and for him – in him all things hold together” (Collosians 1:16-17). Therefore when Jesus lives within us through his Spirit, our hearts embrace not only all people but all of creation. Love casts out all fear and gathers in all that belongs to God.

Prayer, which is breathing with the Spirit of Jesus, leads us to this immense knowledge.