Tryst Issue XVI: Editorial

Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord! We are proud to present Issue XVI which marks our fourth Anniversary. Oh, Happy Happy Anniversary Tryst! I think it is quite evident that we are here to stay and we are looking forward to expanding, to promoting all our contributors and making a lasting impression in the art world. We have much to offer so without further ado, thank you for all your support throughout the years and thank you for reading our journals, enjoy. ~Tryst Editors -Notes- We have changed many things on our site including the Entrance to Tryst. The image of the angel is a watercolor by an artist whose name I am unable to recall, or find on the internet. I downloaded it off a site years ago, and if anyone should know who the artist is please contact us as I would like to secure permission and give credit to the artist. It will stay in place until I can find another replacement but it was one of those things where I just had to have that image because it is so Tryst. All past entrance pages have been archived and can be accessed in the Past Issues Section. Our guidelines have been updated to include an Online Submission Form. News Pages have also been updated.

	I am proud to present Tryst's Feature Poet, Laura Sims. Sims recently won the 2005 Fence Books Alberta Prize. Her poetry is original in every way I can describe it. Sims is one of the best writers writing in America today. She's accomplished something that no other poet I have run across has been able to pull off successfully: minimalism meets profundity. Mature, playful, master of words, Sims is a singular force with admirable equanimity.

	I've known of Tryst's Featured Vocal Artist, Terra Deva, for over eight years. In my small collection of CD favorites, I've held onto her songs and have listened to them throughout the years. Her throaty, bluesy voice rings as true as any gifted artist; but more than that, she's a class act. I want to personally thank her for granting me permission to feature her.

	Victor Ehikhamenor was born in Edo State, Nigeria; a place rich in folkloric tradition and materials. I spend countless hours, days, months searching for artists via internet, journals, galleries and I never know what I'm looking for until I see it. So when Victor Ehikhamenor submitted work to me, it was a gift that landed right in my lap. His work is vibrant, rich and alive with colors, ideas!

	Keith Olstad is a Lutheran pastor who began contemplating how birds symbolize connections between distant peoples in the mid-1980s. I met Pastor Olstad a little over a year ago when I walked into his office and my eyes instantly fell on his bird photos. They inspired the theme of this issue in the quote above from Psalm 96-12 for the gift of eyes that loves so tenderly, touches us all.

	Ernest Williamson III is a doctoral student at Seton Hall University in the field of Higher Education. He is 29 years old and a member of The International High IQ Society based in New York City. As if these credentials weren't impressive enough, Williamson is multi talented in the field of writing, art and energy. I feel incredibly lucky to have this opportunity to showcase Williamson's work.