Editor’s Notes

Happy Holidays Bywords Readers!

With such a picturesque snowy winter already upon us, this month’s poetry by our three poets is a great way to relax over a cup of cocoa, snuggled under a thick woolen comforter. All three poems describe the seasons and the memories they evoke.

As the year’s end approaches, many of us reflect on the past year. I hope that the Bywords poems of 2004 have helped you to celebrate life’s achievements, to ease some of the pain, or to remind you that we are all connected as kindred spirits undergoing similar life experiences.

Thanks to you all: readers, volunteers, poets, musicians, sponsors and the members of Ottawa and the larger literary communities for supporting Bywords this year. In its second year, the new Bywords has published 101 poems, sold BQJs at numerous readings, bookstores and small press book fairs, distributed calendars, publishing numerous events and news items, and supported two community organizations through fundraising: Bruce House and The Cornerstone Emergency Shelter.

A special thank you to our the Bywords 2004 Team:

Steve Artelle, Charles Earl, Heather Ferguson, Joe Goski, Stéphanie Lafleur, Megan McGrath, Sarah Ruffolo, Betty Warrington-Kearsley, Genevieve Wesley, Christine Zadorozny.

And welcome to new volunteers: Nicholas Lea and Kemisha Newman

This issue’s selection committee was Joe Goski, Stéphanie Lafleur, Megan McGrath, Sarah Ruffolo, Betty Warrington-Kearsley, Genevieve Wesley and Christine Zadorozny.

Happy holidays and best wishes to all for an enriching and healthy 2005

Amanda Earl