The year 2001 held great losses for America. September 11th left many of us examining the world we thought we lived in. Our ideas about who we are as a nation have changed. We can no longer entertain the concept of our own shores as invulnerable. The attacks on The World Trade Center and The Pentagon changed our understanding of what it means to exist as a powerful nation today. We are no longer isolated from a world where nations and whole peoples suffer tyrants and terrorism.

2001 was also the year we lost Agha Shahid Ali, one of the finest Arab voices for poetry in the world today. Agha Shahid Ali died at his brother's home in Amherst, Massachusetts on December 8, 2001 of brain cancer. Ali introduced America to the 7th century Persian ghazal form. He was a Kashmiri-American, the inspiration behind my Sabina Spielrein ghazals, some of which appeared in Issue 1 of Literary Salt. Agha Shahid Ali will be missed. For many of us, he represented the great majority of Arab-Americans.

Issue 2 is dedicated to the memory of Agha Shahid Ali as well as those who died, those who lost loved ones, and those who struggled to rescue the survivors of 9/11.

Now I'll address the content and fiber of Issue 2. The editorial board had such a unanimous response to Kevin Miller's poems and to Bruce Brezel's paintings that we decided to feature both of these fine artists in Issue 2. I'm certain you'll see why we felt so strongly about their work when you step into the new issue of Literary Salt.

Here are just a few pointers to add to your enjoyment of Issue 2. When you view Glenn Werner's Gotham and Euploea Mulciber, be sure to click on the images so that you get the full effect of his digital animation. Actually, clicking on any of the images in the issue will take you to a blow-up of each piece. Clicking on the artist's name will take you to their bio. (Likewise, clicking on an author's name at the top of a page will take you to the author's bio.) If you find you're interested in purchasing any of the art in this issue, please use our "contact us" e-mail address. I will forward any request to the artist. However, I cannot give out artist e-mails without permission.

Please enjoy the work of the fine poets, writers and visual artists of Literary Salt's 2nd issue. Go to our guidelines page for the dates of the next submission window. (They've changed). All pertinent information for each category of submission can be found in the guidelines.

On behalf of the editorial board, and myself I want to thank our author's and artists for their fine work. I'm honored and privileged to present them here in Literary Salt.

Sincerely,
Pamela Moore Dionne
Founder and Managing Editor
Literary Salt: