01:00 AM EST on Sunday, January 4, 2004

Anyone who has doubts about the popularity of creative writing in our state needs only to pick up a copy of one of the many fine literary journals produced by our colleges and private writers' groups.

A browse through the periodicals section of a good bookstore will lead you to realize that for such a small state, Rhode Island has quite a lot to say and the talent to say it well. Editing a literary journal requires dedication, an eye and ear for the beauty of words and, of course, the money to create a published text. That our state is home to so many well-made journals is a testament to our place in the national literary culture.

The Alembic, published yearly by Providence College, features writers of national stature, such as Virgil Suarez and Peter Johnson, as well as a sampling of superior student work. Here's "Valentine" by P.C. professor Jane Lunin Perel:

Valentine

-- for Marissa

I close my eyes

Hearing your pulse

Flamencos tango

Red Hawks soar

Beneath your eyes

Those tiny

Mediterraneans I

Sleep I wake

Your red voice tastes

Like my own throat

All honey and salt

-- JANE LUNIN PEREL

* * *

The Redwood Review, published by the Third Thursday Writers' Group of Newport, includes poetry, fiction, nonfiction, photography and artwork. As the group's name suggests, they meet on the third Thursday of each month in the venerable Redwood Library.

Publication costs are covered by donations, and the journal itself is distributed for free. You're likely to find a copy in unlikely places, such as restaurants, doctors' offices, even hair salons.

Here's "Earth Apple" by Janette van de Geest Van Gruisen:

Earth Apple

Eat it from the tree

With the dirt still on

Bite hard

Chew deep and long

and let its bitter flesh be sweetened

by this moment

when you still believe

that everything life offers

will ripen

into fruit.

-- JANETTE VAN DE GEEST VAN GRUISEN

* * *

The Rhode Island Writers' Circle, arguably the state's premier private writing group, has been getting together on the Brown campus to share each other's imaginations for more than 10 years. They recently published a hardcover anthology of their best work to celebrate their decade anniversary.

Writers competed for publication, and submissions were judged without the names of their authors. In the end, 9 short stories and 17 poems were selected for publication.

As an example of the quality of the winners, here's 17-year-old Alyson Marszalkowski's short sound-poem, "Brother":

Brother

The single sibling's dreams sadly shattered.

A night-vision came to the light of morning.

Left all alone, lonely and loveless.

Horrified to hear the horrific howling.

Horribly heart broken running to hide.

Cowardly crouched, making no move.

The bubbling bundle, bobbed back.

Cute as a cactus, huggable like a hornet.

Boisterous brother born bad.

-- ALYSON MARSZALKOWSKI