THE EVOLUTION OF VERSE WISCONSIN
By Jason A. Smith

When Linda Aschbrenner announced in early 2009 the shuttering of her stalwart poetry magazine, Free Verse, poetry writers and lovers across the state uttered a collective gasp of shock. Free Verse, in continual publication–one hundred issues–since 1989, was one of a few print publications left in the state (including this one) with an enduring commitment to exploring the work of new and established poets. For eleven years, the Marshfield-based Free Verse helped poets in Wisconsin and across the country read each other's work, share opportunities for publication, and keep in touch with the latest news from the poetry community. Surely Aschbrenner wouldn't let this precious resource simply evaporate?
     What many didn't know is that when Aschbrenner decided to retire from the magazine world, she approached poets Wendy Vardaman and Sarah Busse with the idea of their picking up where she left off. Busse, who received her MFA from Bennington College, is a Madison-based poet with one book, Quiver (Red Dragonfly Press, 2009), published and another, Given These Magics, forthcoming in spring of 2010. Vardaman, who lives in Madison as well, has a PhD in English from University of Pennsylvania and a BS in engineering from Cornell University. A Pushcart Prize nominee, Vardaman is the author of Obstructed View (Fireweed Press, 2009), and was runner-up in 2004 for the Council for Wisconsin Writers' Lorine Niedecker Award.
     With their experience in the business of publishing poetry, the choice of Busse and Vardaman as successors seemed right. But neither Busse nor Vardaman had experience running a quarterly magazine, and the technical challenges-for print and web publishing alike-seemed daunting. They decided to suspend publication for a year in order to consider how best to continue Aschbrenner's work and ensure that the magazine continued to encourage, support, and connect poets in Wisconsin and beyond. The two figured that they could build upon the body of work and goodwill Aschbrenner had accumulated and reach out to various populations that aren't usually addressed in print: spoken word poets, visual and performance poets, and so forth. Both Busse and Vardaman agreed that to do this a broader web presence for the magazine with more opportunities to interact was a must.

Verse Wisconsin editors Busse (left) and Vardaman (right)

This unique combination of print and online publication will allow the quarterly Verse Wisconsin to reach a broader, more diverse population. "As much as I believe in the idea of a canon, there are always voices that are left out," says Busse. "I come out of a Great Books tradition, but, well, life gets more blurry and interesting when you invite more people to the conversation." Vardaman agrees, noting that "borders and boundaries are the most fascinating areas to examine and explore." The Web is the perfect place to experiment with different forms, and, with the ease of file sharing and upload, the two foresee the Verse Wisconsin website as an invaluable resource for poets to share the sights and sounds of their work. They also hope to utilize the website's online forum to connect creative writing faculty to non-university poets across the state.
     In the end, the dynamic duo describe the new Verse Wisconsin as a place where you'll find "neighbors talking to neighbors about poetry," a sentiment that reflects the friendly, accessible vibe found throughout Wisconsin's poetry community. "You don't need a degree to get in on the action," says Busse, adding, "the neophyte and the professor [will] have equal access" to Verse Wisconsin. Yet that access comes with a cost, and the two note that, while "web publishing is essentially free, [they] will need to develop a subscriber base and do some fund-raising and grant writing to maintain a print issue." "This is a volunteer effort, not a job," adds Vardaman, "so we need to juggle the demands of Verse Wisconsin with other competing ones, including the need to write our own poetry."
     But, the two are committed to enhancing Aschbrenner's vision. "Linda started this magazine, and we're stewards of her original concept," says Vardaman. Busse sums up the transition nicely: "A good way to think of Verse Wisconsin is as the evolution of Free Verse, rather than some kind of revolution."
     The Winter 2010 print issue of Verse Wisconsin, which arrives in late-January, includes work from such poets as Wisconsin Poet Laureate Marilyn Taylor, Madison Laureate Fabu, Milwaukee Laureate Susan Firer, Antler (Milwaukee's first Laureate), and Karl Elder, as well as works from many other talented poetry and prose writers. The Verse Wisconsin website features themed poems on the topic of "Doors & Windows," with audio from both online and print contributors. The online issue is accessible to all, and readers can stop by versewisconsin.org and access many kinds of different poetry and prose. Copies of the inaugural print issue of Verse Wisconsin will be available on their website or at Avol's Bookstore in Madison.