Ploughshares Winter 2005-2006 Guest-Edited by David St. John

The Winter 2005-06 issue of Ploughshares, guest-edited by David St. John. Ploughshares, a journal of new writing, is guest-edited serially by prominent writers who explore different personal visions, aesthetics, and literary circles.Acclaimed poet and essayist David St. John (Hush, Prism) compiles this volume of poems and stories that embody the heterogeneity of contemporary literary style. "The greatest strength of American literature," says St. John in this volume's introduction, "has been, at its source, its plurality of voices, its multitude of styles, and its consistent resistance to the coercion of what we have imagined to be prevailing literary trends." Featuring works from former Ploughshares guest editors Edward Hirsch, Carl Phillips, and Alice Hoffman; Ploughshares Cohen award winners Ron Carlson and Maxine Swann; and acclaimed poets like Mark Doty and Jane Hirshfield, this volume mirrors St. John's preference for works that defy convention and, indeed, treat literary trends as "an anachronism."Full Table of ContentsINTRODUCTIONDavid St. JohnFICTION"Talk," by Ann Beattie"In the Old Firehouse, by Ron Carlson"Saint Helene," by Alice Hoffman"The Sweetness of Her Name," by Jean McGarry"Church Owl," by Howard Norman"Secret," by Maxine Swann"The Heiress from Horn Lake," by Katherine TaylorPOETRYRalph AngelMarvin BellCharles BennettElena Karina ByrneMichael CollierCathy ColmanMark DotyNorman DubieLynn EmanuelD. W. FenzaCB FollettChris ForhanDoreen GildoyKathleen Halme IIIJudith HarrisJeffrey HarrisonEdward HirschJane HirshfieldH. L. HixJeff HoffmanJohn HoppenthalerDavid KirbyDavid LehmanFederico García LorcaGail MazurLeslie Adrienne MillerCarol Muske-DukesJudith PachtCandace PearsonAlison PelegrinCarl PhillipsKevin PruferLiam RectorPaisley RekdalAlberto RíosKatrina RobertsDavid RomtvedtMartha RonkMira RosenthalAmy Newlove SchroederJane ShoreSusan TerrisRichard TillinghastRonald WallaceCharles Harper WebbC. Dale YoungEDITOR PROFILEby Susan TerrisPOSTSCRIPTZacharis Award Winner Richard McCann