A Backpack of Milestones

A Backpack of Milestones

You need not be a poet or poetry enthusiast
to enjoy poetry selections published by J. Mark Press.
I am confident that this poetry represents a sampling
of the best poems of our era in America by the best poets.

After several years of publishing hundreds of amazing
contributions of poetry in Penman Magazine, it became
apparent that anthologies were needed, dedicated only to poetry.

To create these early anthologies (1966 to 1972) affordably was nearly impossible.
They were painstakingly handmade using primitive stencil tools and an electric
mimeograph machine. Sometimes plugged ink holes on the drum escaped our
weary eyes and and some bald spots were printed. But we weren’t going to let a
modest budget stop us. We did whatever we could to keep on publishing.

Barbara Fischer invented a method to mimeograph replicated color (similar to
silk screen). Professionally printed and bound anthologies were only a dream
back then, causing us to “take a break” in 1977. But in 1999 the dream became
a reality! High speed laser printing and the computer made “real anthologies” a
well-earned reward, a professional book. J. Mark Press published and copyrighted
poetry anthologies from 1966 to 2003  (“some years I took time-out.”)

“My mind was always writing poetry, But there was so little time to create
a book of my own poetry, while teaching poetry classes, serving on the
Cultural Affairs Committee of the county legislature, publishing
our anthologies and creating our former website. Nevertheless, I
published Among The Reeds, The Flaming Sword, and “Backpack of
Milestones,” while creating our poetry website and many anthologies.
Most of my favorite formerly published plus recent writing is included
in this book.”

“Enjoy some of my selections at this link.
I hope to add few more soon”