| Arsenic Lobster poetry journal | Final Issue 2018 |
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| Catch and Release Susan Yount Pain. I don’t know anything about it–where it comes from, how to make it stop. I chase it around my body like a squirrel. When the doctors ask me to rate it on a scale of 1 to 10, I’m sure I answer wrong. Many have asked why I want to quit publishing the Arsenic Lobster. First, a literal pain in my literal ass has been growing, making it uncomfortable to sit in front of a computer for long hours. So, I traded time spent working on the Arsenic Lobster for time focusing on myself: traveling, walking and losing weight. I had to break some bad habits and, in the process, the Arsenic Lobster fell victim to those changes. But there is a second reason. I’m not interested in working on the Lobster anymore. In the last few years, a figurative pain in my ass has developed, too. The Po-scene has become too focused on things I find have nothing to do with poetry. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I understand–it’s hard to keep up. It’s stressful to see the Arsenic Lobster appear on whatever “boycott” list is hot this week because any number of years ago, we published a poem by so-and-so, who is now in a social media drama with another so-and-so. It’s also tiresome to receive messages repeatedly suggesting I “reconsider” whom I should be connected with on social media because of whatever drama has befallen the Po-community this week. As a publisher–and, a human–I will not continue to volunteer my time and spend my money on a venture that others use to troll me. My life is too full of great things, and great projects which remain incomplete to spend so much time working on a journal for a community that does its best to make poetry about everything other than poetry. I know these incidents are rare(ish) and not everyone is trying to damage me or the journal. I’ve worked hard to build, promote, publish and edit the Arsenic Lobster and many have expressed gratitude. I am thankful for you too. However, it’s time to release the great Lobster back into the sky. With tremendous love in my heart for the ArsenLob, this will be the final issue. ** O, History: 1999–2018 The Arsenic Lobster Poetry Journal was an Idaho-based publication founded in 1999. In 2004, Jen Hawkins, one of the founding editors, agreed to pass the Arsenic Lobster on to me. We launched the website in 2005 and became one of the first and longest-running online and print poetry journals. During my tenure, I’ve published nearly 500 contributors of poetry, art and reviews. I have edited and printed 11 anthologies and donated hundreds of books to the U.S. military, poetry workshops, lit crawls and writing conferences. I’ve also created lesson plans for publishing classes and worked with several interns who received university credit for their experience reading submissions, writing reviews and editing for the Arsenic Lobster Poetry Journal. ArsenLob contributors have had their poems featured at Verse Daily, Best of the Net and Best of the Web. ArsenLob’s finest editors have gone on to create their own journals, magazines and workshops. I wish continued success and a beloved farewell to the Arsenic Lobster family! You were truly the arsenic in my eye. Please enjoy this final issue of the Arsenic Lobster Poetry Journal. —Susan Yount, Editor & Publisher |
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