This is not the day of the epic. We live in fast times. Fast food, fast jobs, fast commutes, and now fast poetry.

32 Poems is the brilliant brainstorm of poetess Deborah Ager. When asked why she chose the name 32 Poems, Deborah said, “Because 33 was too long and 31 wasn’t long enough.” Wit is the mark of a brilliant mind.

Besides her wit, Deborah Ager is also a published poet and holds an MFA from the University of Florida. She started the journal in 2003 and since then has grown the literary journal into quite the respectable masterpiece. Poems that have graced its pages have also appeared in Best American Poetry, Poetry Daily, and Best New Poets 2005 and 2006.

The concept is to publish 32 poems no longer than 32 lines each. You can read a single poem in a single sitting and if you have just a little bit of time you might get through all 32 poems in one sitting. Then you can go back and enjoy them again (and you should).

Just because the poems are short doesn’t make them shallow. Quite the contrary. Each poem has its own way of communicating the depth of living and even when quips and flips are whipped up in good measure the poetry seems to come from someplace deep within the human spirit. These poems are sure to live on long after their authors have retired.

The copies I examined are from 2006 and 2007. Published twice a year, the editors have plenty of time to choose the right pieces for their pages. The issue from Fall/Winter 2006 was saddle stapled but the later volume was perfect bound, which means there is improvement from issue to issue. I highly recommend 32 Poems. They do not like simultaneous submissions, but if you are blessed enough to be chosen for publication, you’ll be in darn good company.