Dear Modern Haiku family,

December 1 is the deadline for editors of literary publications to send in their six nominations for the Pushcart Prize. This long-established award is the pinnacle of small-press publishing, and even a nomination is considered an honor. The Modern Haiku editors' selections for the 2012 Pushcart Prize are as follows:

"Say Uncle," by Chad Lee Robinson, MH 42.1

"Father Owen, SJ," by Roberta Beary, MH 42.1

"Where Ice Now Breaks," by David Cobb, MH 42.1

"A Tumbly Life of Haiku: Reading Robert Spiess," by Randy
Brooks, MH 42.2

"Hasegawa Kai: A Prince of Modern Haiku," by David Burleigh,
with "The Haiku of Hasegawa Kai," translated by Tanaka Kimiyo
and David Burleigh, MH 42.3

"Kissing Simon Cowell," by Lynne Rees, MH 42.3

Each year the Haiku Foundation invites journal editors to nominate ten favorite haiku or senryu from each issue for the Touchstone Haiku Awards. Also, this year Red Moon Press has expanded its stable of nominators of material for the Red Moon Anthology and asked editors to suggest especially meritorious work. We have submitted our recommendations, and have our editorial fingers crossed, as acceptance of work in either of these projects reflects not only on the poets but on the journals!

Modern Haiku Press has added a new title to its distinguished catalog of books, Haiku 21, an anthology of 21st century haiku.

Sharp-eyed subscribers who compulsively read our masthead will have noticed a few changes there, notably the addition of Roberta Beary's name. We're delighted to announce that Roberta has agreed to join the editorial staff as haibun editor. She's starting right away and will choose from your work for the summer 2012 issue. Please continue to send your submissions to me, however, at <modernhaiku@gmail.com>.

And finally, I realize that unfortunately all this fun cannot go on forever. I am planning to hand over the reins of Modern Haiku after the summer 2013 issue, which coincides with my 70th birthday. The really good news is that Paul Miller—newly dubbed Modern Haiku associate editor—will pick up these reins and ride this thoroughbred of ours into ever wider horizons!