The Aurora Review

Winter/Spring 2005

On December 26, 2004, our planet was inexorably transformed, not just geographically, but demographically. The full extent of the cataclysm in Southern Asia will probably always remain incomprehensible, but in trying to cope with a catastrophic event of this magnitude I found myself first searching in vain for answers in the personal narratives and disturbing images emerging from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and their neighbors, and then turning to poetry, art, and music – three creative forms especially suited for processing and expressing the intangible and the inconceivable. Since the selection process for our Winter/Spring 2005 issue was occurring at the same time, I naturally found myself gravitating toward these forms for much the same reasons, and a theme for this issue presented itself.
 

In the face of such tragedy, I have become increasingly grateful for the artists and writers who allow me to glimpse, ever so briefly, their creative landscapes. Thank you to all of those gifted individuals who contributed to this issue, and indeed to all of those brave enough to put themselves out there by submitting their work. You truly are the reason we are here.

And, thank you once again to my friend and coeditor, John, for contributing his time and editorial expertise to this project.

This issue of The Aurora Review is dedicated to the memory of the hundreds of thousands who perished in December’s tsunami and to all those who loved them and grieve their loss. May we all find solace, if not answers, in the angle of a brushstroke, in a poetic turn of phrase, in the perspective of a photograph, or in the timber of a transcendent melody.

Be well and be safe,

Tracy