Introduction by Zachary Kluckman

          Most of us already know that April is National Poetry Month. My sincere hope is that you have already begun taking the time this month to soak in hot water and bath salts with a generous handful of Nikky Finney’s staggering verse or a pristine new edition of Tracy K. Smith’s Pulitzer Prize-winning poetry. Whatever waters you find yourself immersing your creative side in, I'd like to take this opportunity to invite you to celebrate four brilliantly talented ladies who are currently changing the face of contemporary poetics.

          Some of you may recall that last year we introduced you to an event called WOWps, the notoriously riotous festival of fierce feminine free-verse known as the Women of the World Poetry Slam. This year alone, more than seventy women came together in Denver, Colorado for a festival of poetry that was truly indescribable. The sensation of shared experience, passion, and support that these women bring to one another’s work is a testament to the ineffable, transformative qualities of poetry and spoken word.

          This year we invite you to join us in welcoming several new voices to the Pedestal’s rich history of luminous spoken word with a special feature designed to shine a light on women who are pursuing their craft and engaging their narrative voices in ways that truly invigorate the art, offering all of us the inspiration, and invitation, to peer deeper into the slow dance of syllable and symbol that is spoken word in the contemporary age.

          Please take a moment to listen to the wondrous artists whose works appear in this issue and, if the opportunity presents itself, get yourself out to a reading or event where they are appearing. In the meantime, here’s one for the poets and one for the readers!

Zachary Kluckman