Vultures & Doves: Social Issues of Our Time

"Vultures and Doves: Social Issues of Our Time," the theme of Valiant Scribe's first poetry competition in 2021, is now reprised as the title of this current issue of the Journal.

The poetry featured in this issue draws from the poetry shortlisted from entries received for the website and from the aforementioned poetry competition. Unlike the first issue of the Journal, it features only poetry and a written interview of the first-place winner of the poetry competition.

This collection features notable writers, wise in craft, and strong of heart. It features touching poems that pull at the heartstrings and move hands and feet to action. It is a synergy of pain, love, hope, and wisdom.

While every poem in this issue carries its weight in gold, it would be a disservice not to note the poetry competition's winning authors and honorable mentions. The judges, Des Mannay, Jaime Grookett, and Debra Ayis, were highly touched by Praise Osawaru, Melanie Hyo-In Han, and Paula Pivko's poems, placing first, second, and third, respectively. Entries by Matthew J. Andrews, Phyllis Wax, Charles Rammelkamp, Sandra S. Newton, and Danielle Resh were exceptionally moving and are listed as honorable mentions.

The collection explores the theme of vultures and doves from the contexts of war and peace, and despair and hope in a world filled with conflict, poverty, natural disasters, human rights violations, and other ills.

This issue presents poetry that encourages deep reflection on the condition of our world and evokes thoughts of hope, telling us there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Contributors
Buffy Aakaash, Matthew J. Andrews, Jim Andrukonis, Nancy Brewka-Clark, Susan Christopher, Angela Costi, Chella Courington, Ivan de Monbrison, Babatdor Dkhar, Erika Dreifus, Christine Du Bois, Melanie Hyo-In Han, Stephen House, Lee Nash, Sandra Salinas Newton, Clara Olivo, Praise Osawaru, Paula Pivko, Charles Rammelkamp, Danielle Resh, Matt Schur, Michael Shen, J. J. Steinfeld, Henry Lee Thomas, Aleksandra Lekic Vujisic, Robert Walton, and Phyllis Wax.

Reviews

"Vultures and Doves is a gorgeous collection of poems exploring topics like justice, hope, pain, and joy. I was impressed by the caliber of work and the representation of so many different perspectives in its pages. This work will move and delight you." MaryB Safrit, Author

"... the content is excellent! My favorite is the partially greyed-out poem (Korean Survivors of the Japanese 'Comfort Women' System). Genius! Good work..." T.C. Clarke, Memorist

"I really did like Praise's winning poem... I greet him on the dawn of a great career." L.R. Laverde-Hansen, Playwright