To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee,
One clover, and a bee.
And revery.
The revery alone will do,
If bees are few.
—Emily Dickinson
"To Make a Prairie" (1755)
The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson
April on the prairie can be bone-chilling wet, but this year in the Midwest we have been blessed with sun, warmth, and loads of early bloomers that have sparked our imaginations. So it seems appropriate to open this 2010 edition with the preceding poem from Emily Dickinson. And, despite bitter politics that have tainted our season of hope, we look forward to more vigorous life in the savannas, wetlands, and meadows that make up the remnants of the North American prairie. We also welcome new voices who have joined our tallgrass party in sharing their work and observations of this unique ecosystem.
-- LeAnn Spencer, editor and publisher