Asian American Poetry in Mascara

This special issue of Mascara Literary Review presents work by 17 Asian American poets. I'm honored to publish new poems by John Yau, our featured poet, and by many established and new writers of diverse ethnicities, regions and ages. The poetry covers a wide range of subjects and explores an exciting variety of forms. You will enjoy reading the work of Wendy Chin-Tanner, Floyd Cheung, Kim-An Lieberman, Jennifer Tseng, Lee Herrick, Katie Hae Leo, Jenna Le, Jeffrey Hecker, Yim Tan Wong, Rey Escobar, Tiel Aisha Ansari, Jason Wee, Vanni Taing, Jason Bayani, Minh Pham and Lisa Shirley.

In addition, in the prose section, Singapore critic Gwee Li Sui interviews Timothy Yu on his study of experimental and Asian American poetry Race and the Avant-garde; Meena Alexander reminds us of the "intimate violence" of racism; Jennifer Kwon Dobbs introduces the poetry of the Korean adoptee diaspora; and Joseph O. Legaspi explains the special place of Kundiman, a non-profit devoted to the cultivation of Asian American poetry.

I hope this Mascara issue will expose readers everywhere to this thriving literature, and build ties of understanding between Asians in America and Asia.

Jee Leong Koh
Guest-Editor

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