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2011 | Archive of Editor’s Letters: 2010 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005
Letter from the Editor-in-Chief/Publisher 2010
 Juanita Torrence Thompson
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Dear poetry lovers,
2010 has been a mixed bag. On the PLUS side: Möbius, The Poetry Magazine continues to grow. This year we had more new poets than ever since I took over in 2006, in addition to our wonderful poets who have been writing for decades and contribute regularly, we also welcome back former U.S. Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize winning poet, RITA DOVE and much lauded NIKKI GIOVANNI, MARGE PIERCY, DANIELA GIOSEFFI, A.D. WINANS and former Queens Poets Laureate HAL SIROWITZ, STEPHEN STEPANCHEV and JULIO MARZAN and more. We also welcome for the first time legendary SONIA SANCHEZ whom I had the honor of reading with at the Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center in New York.
We had first-time submissions from Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, Uganda, Trinidad, etc. Due to the plethora of fine submissions, it made our work more challenging. However, please note that this year I added the Editor-in- Chief’s Choice Award for the non-contest entrants. I also published on the contest page my 2010 Pushcart Prize nominations.
It gives me great pleasure to introduce you to DR. DIANA FESTA who is replacing our dear BEVERLY TAYLOR who has other commitments. She joins our talented DOMINICK ARBOLAY and DR. JIM FLANAGAN as associate editor. Diana Festa grew up in Italy and came to the United States at age 18. After earning a Ph.d, she began her academic career as professor of French at Brooklyn College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. In that capacity, she published 40 articles in learned reviews and four books of literary criticism: Les Novelles de Balzac, The City as Catalyst, Balzac, Prousian Optics. Diana Festa is the author of numerous poems in many reviews, and six poetry books: Arches to the West, Ice Sparrow, Threshold, Bedrock, The Gathering, A Landscape of Time. Her honors include the Prix Guizot from The French Academy, The Aniello Lauri Award, Poetry Editor Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship, several poetry prizes.
I regretfully inform you of the passing of my dear husband, HUGH W. THOMPSON, who gave tirelessly to Möbius, The Poetry Magazine so I could focus on the creative instead of financial matters. Thank you everyone for the thoughtful cards, letters and emails of sympathy. I dedicate this issue to Hugh. His tribute follows.
Poetry is the Music of the Soul.
— Juanita Torrence-Thompson,
Editor-in-Chief/Publisher
MÖBIUS A Tribute To Hugh W. Thompson 1932-2010
 Hugh W. Thompson
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It is with deep regret that I announce the passing on September 26, 2010 of my husband, Hugh W. Thompson. Hugh served Möbius, The Poetry Magazine faithfully for five years in various capacities. He was Senior Vice-President and Treasurer and on the editorial side he was proofreader for a while then Assistant Editor and Managing Editor. Hugh delighted in traipsing to the post office six days a week and returning with a bounce in his step saying, “We have more submissions for Mobius.” Then he’d often tear into the envelopes to see if there were any poems springing from those pages with the caliber of Emily Dickinson, Gwendylon Brooks or Langston Hughes.
Hugh began his love affair with poetry at his librarian mother’s knee where he taught himself to read books at age four from A Child’s Garden of Verses. Hugh was very happy with the success and praise that Möbius received and for which he was partially responsible. He had a brilliant mind and was an avid reader from newspapers like The New York Times and Newsday to magazines such as Astronomy, Scientific American to my Black Enterprise and Forbes to books of poetry to history, to politics to biographies, etc.
He was a Wagnerian lover and aficionado and owned all his operas and other classical music. However, he also played CDs of our son’s compositions, Broadway shows, jazz, country, soul, Dixieland music. He was no one-note person. He watched the quiz show Jeopardy with keen interest—as we both laughed and spewed out the questions—and yet he also enjoyed the crowdpleasing Dancing With the Stars—with me.
Hugh was a valiant, trusting soul who gave everyone the benefit of the doubt. He donated heavily to many causes and had a special place in his heart for the downtrodden.
Hugh was born in Laconia, New Hampshire to Gertrude and Leon Thompson. He received his B.S. in Math and a near minor in English from the University of New Hampshire. He is survived by his wife, Juanita Torrence-Thompson, his son Derek and his half-sister Patricia Volstad, nephew John Volstad and John’s children as well as cousins Robert, Ray and David Harrington and their children.
My poem “How I Met Hugh” dedicated to him on page 3 in Family & Relationships of Möbius is from my book, Celebrating a Tapestry of Life.
MEMORIES & CONDOLENCES from Family & Friends:
HUGH WARREN THOMPSON—The Early Years—Recollections from Aunt Helen Harrington: “When Malcolm and I were first married, in early 1934, we were living with his parents, Nelson Winfield and Martha Cook Harrington, at the Province Road Parsonage in Belmont. Malcolm’s sister. Gertrude, was also living there with her young son, Hugh, who was about two at the time. Because Gertrude was working in Concord and because Martha was working as a resident private duty nurse much of the time, a lot of the care of the household and of Hugh fell to me. Hugh was a precocious child and at that young age was learning fast. He even had a phonograph upon which he would play records of operas that he had. A lot of Hugh’s care as a youngster was provided by his grandmother and aunts, as Gertrude was ill much of the time and working when she was able.”
Recollections from Cousin Robert Harrington: “My brothers and I did not have much contact with Hugh during our school years. He would visit occasionally over vacations and we would play together. He was very smart and very fond of chess, which he tried to teach us with little success. In the 1960s he picked up the Japanese board game of Go, which he enjoyed. He became active in the Go club there in New York. He was also very fond of German opera, Wagner especially.”
“As far as anecdotes go, Robert, David and I had a cousinly rivalry with Hugh that erupted into marathon games of bridge during the holiday seasons when Hugh came to visit. I remember playing cards until well into the night and repeating the games night after night during the Christmas holidays. Hugh visited during the summers a little and did help with the farm work on those occasions. Even then we had a rivalry going, with Hugh trying to match us in physical jobs like tossing hay bales onto the truck. Hugh emphasized the cerebral side of his life more than we did, so in the physical contests, he usually lost out to his country cousins. —You have my sympathies,” Ray HARRINGTON
Paraphrasing Legendary Poet, SONIA SANCHEZ: Juanita Torrence-Thompson spoke to Sonia Sanchez after Hugh passed. Dr. Sanchez had asked Juanita if she could attend Hugh’s memorial service, then realized she was reading in Florida October 23, but said she would be there in spirit. She wanted everyone to know “how sweet and kind” Hugh was to her when she and Juanita read in September at the Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center in Queens, NY. Dr. Sanchez said she wanted to have dinner with Hugh and Juanita the next time she was in New York. She was also impressed with the fine photos Hugh took of her and Juanita, which were published in New York and Massachusetts newspapers.
“I just heard your sad news and wanted to send my sincere condolences on your loss. I remember, each Estuary Day, your husband quietly snapping photos of you at the podium, as your read your beautiful poetry. I hope happy memories are a comfort during this difficult time.” Fondly, Karen Pierro, Alley Pond Environmental Center
“I am truly sorry to hear of your loss. I have admired your very close and loving relationship from afar; the complement you were to each other, and wonderful role model for others. My prayers are with you and your family as you face this difficult time.” —Linda Bannerman-Martin, Assistant Community Library Manager, Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center
“We were so sorry to get your e-mail about your husband’s passing. You and your family have our heartfelt sympathy and condolences. We will definitely put this poem in our next issue.” —Marjorie J. HURST, Point Of View, Editor
“My thoughts and prayers are with you. Take care and know I care. I always liked Hugh and was always glad of your solid relationship. Keep thinking of the good times you had together and be glad for them. He is all well now.” —Linda McKay
NAME TRIBUTE: HUGH THOMPSON
Husband of loyalty, devotion, support
Understanding, understated, all-inclusive
Goodhearted, gentle, cultivated, kind
Hunger for knowledge in science and the arts
Tender, thorough world traveler
Hoping for unity, joy, healing
Outlook of rationality and fatherly concern
Modest, motivational monarch from New Hampshire to Kew Gardens Hills
Photographer, proofreader par excellence
Sensitive appreciation of classical music and the blues
Occupied with what drives the universe, & spouse’s vivacious versifying in varied venues
Never-ending legacy of truthful reliability.
— Juanita Torrence-Thompson,
Editor-in-Chief/Publisher
