September’s Corridor poetry zine has been printed and released into the world! We blazed through distribution. Copies went fast. Folks were asking for copies. WE ended up printing about 20 more than normal. Currently, the budget of cash and time has space for 100 copies a month. Printing those extra 20 copies worked out well; I had the time, ink, and paper. Don’t know if it will work out like that every month. A real labor of love, for reals.
Corridor is not posted on a blog, digital magazine, or sold in any way, shape, or form. It is FREE. Corridor has no LOC or ISBN number, no ads, and no expectations. FREE all day! The only way you can get a paper copy is to go out into the world and look for it. Corridor distributors place copies at local companies around Whatcom County. We even take them with us on our travels. Copies have been left at airports, in other states, on ferry boats, even in other countries.
Kathleen A. McKeever, a regular volunteer distributor, shared that the August edition ended up in the hands of two gentlemen who were visiting from Ireland. She ran into them at a coffee shop write-out. They were delighted to receive a zine full of local poetry and art. She encouraged them to submit some work. How exciting!
CJ’S MEMORIAL
Thank you to all who came out to the C.J. Prince Memorial at Fairhaven Park on August 22nd. I hosted the open mic portion. It was well attended. Kathleen A. McKeever walked us through CJ’s labyrinth. Thunder rolled across the sky as we entered. You may know that CJ worked in theater. It definitely felt like she was orchestrating the sound effects for her own memorial. The rain, wind, and thunder were all her instruments. Cued at powerful moments in the sharing and commentary, almost to the point of it being comical. Well done, CJ!
NEW FEATURES
This summer we began to include pages that can be colored and mazes. Children do read the zine from time to time; it’s also a cheeky metaphor for problem-solving. Also, the adult coloring pages are mindfulness coloring pages, anti-stress coloring pages, or zen coloring pages designed to help with anxiety. You got this!
SSPF FALL POETRY CRAWL & FESTIVAL
Lovely poets, the Salish Sea Poetry Festival is planning a Thursday night crawl in the Fountain District on October 1st.
Join us as we listen to poetry and migrate through four beloved hangouts in the Fountain District! At each venue, we’ll hear 30 minutes of poetry from a local journal or poetry group, then visit over drinks/snacks before moving on to the next stop.
The crawl will kick off at 5pm at Zeek’s Pizza (2416 Meridian St). We’ll then migrate to Doug’s Burgers (6pm), Good’s Local Brews (7pm), and Menace Brewing (8pm). For this edition of the crawl, we’ll hear poetry from Hamlit, Chuckanut Sandstone Writers Theater, Red Wheelbarrow Writers, and, finally, share work at an open mic.
Meet us at Zeek’s at 5pm, or look for the crowd of poetry fanatics meandering through the Fountain District!
Every venue is all-ages. Attendance is free, but please plan to support the venues.
Open mic sign-ups are available now! 10 slots on a first-come, first-served basis. 5 slots will be available at the event. Readers get 3 minutes each. Send your sign-up requests to shannon.chickadee@gmail.com
The Salish Sea Poetry Festival 2026 is a FREE 3-day event happening on November 13th – 15th. Events, classes, poetry walks, a slam are planned. Details and a schedule will be released soon. Last year was super fun! We hope to see you there.
SEPTEMBER ISSUE
Hold onto your socks! This issue is another banger. Beneath the collection is a recurring question: How do we remain connected—to other people, to animals, to nature, to our past selves, and to the larger community? The poems frequently answer: through love, attention, empathy, creativity, and responsibility. Touching moments in each poem. September Corridor is getting printed and will be distributed throughout this week. Luv you all!
COVER by Kathleen McKeever, “As We Take Time To Walk Down The Corridors Of Choice, We See How A Compassionate Society Can Be Created And Supported”
Thanks for your contributions:
BIOS BIOS BIOS
Betty Scott plants images, sounds, and rhythms she hopes will bloom in readers’ minds after she dips her hands into life’s muddy soil.
Duncan Shields is an animator, writer, podcaster, and performer currently living in Vancouver, BC, with his wife and daughter. He enjoys the rain and burritos, and he’s happy to be here.
Tyson Higel lives in Bellingham where he works as a nurse, tinkers with words, and is learning, always, that there’s joy in simplicity. Reach out / read more at tysonhigel.com
Kathleen A. McKeever has published two books of poetry, available at Village Books or the Bellingham Washington Public Library, “Lightbound” and “Body/Today.”
Naomi Stenberg (she/they) lives in Seattle. A poem of Naomi’s was nominated for the 2026 Monarch Queer Literary Awards. Naomi’s new chapbook, The Measure of Breath, is coming out this Fall.
Rebecca Mabanglo-Mayor’s poetry chapbook, Pause Mid-Flight, was released in 2010, and her poetry and essays were collected in Dancing Between Bamboo Poles and published in 2019.
Linda Conroy, a Bellingham poet, and author of two poetry collections, likes to write about the complexities of human nature and our connection to the natural world.
Ryler Dustin is the author of Heavy Lead Birdsong, forthcoming in an expanded edition from Write Bloody Publishing this fall. Connect or learn more at rylerdustin.com
C.J. Prince poet (in memoriam) – anthologies – sand – chapbooks — tai chi — language borders – fox den of dictionaries — distinguished – new book — after the full moon artist — Salish Sea
Shannon Laws is the publisher of Corridor. Her fifth poetry book, “Tongue in Ink,” is available at Village Books. shannonplawswriter.com
ARTISTS
Michelle Ballou is a poet and artist living in Bellingham, Washington. She likes to play with ink, paper, and words. The American Robin is her spark bird.
Peer Smits, lives in the Netherlands. 3 books. Writing also prose, composer, photographer. Publications in several magazines. Painter.
shannon p. laws 