Mission

HeartLodge began as abstract rumination for five women poets who came together to write, read, critique, and ultimately to see our work acknowledged and published. Some of us had not known one another at all; all of us were pursuing careers in different disciplines and traveling through various phases of life. We became fast friends and colleagues as we puzzled our way through the mysteries of word and cadence and metaphor.

We like to describe our poetry meetings as our lifeline. The more comfortable we became with our own voices and process, the greater our desire to extend ourselves into the more public world of poetry—to create our own place of shelter for a broader range of poets, a place of welcome and celebration.

From those musings, the inaugural issue of HeartLodge: Honoring the House of the Poet was born in the spring of 2005. During our fall and winter reading period, nearly 900 poems arrived at our editorial offices, from as nearby as Northern Colorado and as far away as Hawai’i. Each poem was received and reviewed by an appreciative editorial board made up of kindred poets and experienced editors.

In 2006, our second year of publication, we again welcomed poetry with a strong sense of imagery, voice, and place. As batches of poems graced our doorstep, we discovered that with each envelope, another world was revealed. From small and large towns across the United States and Canada and faraway locales such as Guam, the United Arab Emirates, Asia, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Italy, and the Virgin Islands, each poem was appreciated for its craft, or theme, or moment of surprise.

And with each poem, we learned of the joy and sadness of ordinary and extraordinary life: exploring nature, the birth of a child, the death of a parent, joining together or divorce, heritage and culture, life-altering moments. As editors, we read for the infinite ways to respond to the human condition. We learned too that poetry itself is infinite in its ability to offer reflection and benediction.

With the second volume of HeartLodge, we inaugurated a poetry contest we hope to nurture from year to year. Poets chose to share both traditional and experimental work with us, entrusting us with the very best examples of their art. How wonderful to see the vast array of talent across the miles and the genuine interest in the world of poetry.

Now, we welcome you to the HeartLodge website. If you open our turquoise door, you will discover that the house of the poet is overflowing with friends who have become family, with poems that are timeless yet innovative, with our appreciation for all poets who have chosen to share their talents and lives with us.