International Echoes ~ Shabdaguchha at 15!

Happy 15th birthday, Shabdaguchha! 

This Bengali poetry magazine with an international flavour is edited by Hassanal Abdullah from his home in the USA. I was made aware of this multilingual magazine back in 2011 when I was invited to contribute to a section on poetry from Wales, along with Aeronwy Thomas (1943-2009), Peter Thabit Jones, Jean Salkilld, David (Gill) and Lynn Hopkins.

Fifteen years is a long time in the life of a poetry magazine! Two of the highlights along the way (in my opinion) have been pieces on the Swatantra Sonnet (devised by the editor) and a feature on Cajun poets, presented by Beverly Matherne.

Issue 59/60 contains birthday greetings from Stanley H. Barkan, editor of Cross-Cultural Communications in New York, from Laura Boss, Kristine Doll, Maria Mazziotti Gillan, Tino Villenueva and many others. My anniversary tribute can be found on p.16, under the heading 'An International  Celebration of Literary Adventure'.