zyzzyva (ZIZ-zi-va) n. Any of various tropical American weevils of the
genus Zyzzyva, often destructive to plants. Last word in some dictionaries.

Letters to the Editor, Spring 2000

I am in the habit of taking a book to work every day: to read on BART, during my morning break, and whenever else I have the time. It is alarming for me when I realize I have nothing new to read. Imagine my delight when a new issue arrives just when I'm desperate. How can you know?

Christi Lynne Miller, El Cerrito

So I was wearing my ZYZZYVA T-shirt on Sunday. I walked to the grocery store and asked for half a pound of sliced turkey. The woman gave me that look. I'm now accustomed to answering: "It's a literary magazine, in San Francisco, they print poems and stories and things," so I geared up. Instead, though, the woman slicing my roast turkey said, "Are you involved with them, because I want to send them some poetry." She needed the address; I wish now that I'd asked her what she wrote about or maybe read something of hers.

Jenn Stroud, San Francisco

I recently discovered your website and was quite impressed with the quality of work I found there.

Jenniffer Dundon, Olympia, WA

ZYZZYVA has been an active part of my poetic development. In high school, some years ago, my poetry teacher would bring me copies to read during class—telling me that this was the best the West Coast had to offer. Then again, years later, when I was working as an intern at the SFSU Poetry Center, ZYZZYVA and many of the poets whom you have published set the standard in poetry for me. Recently, I have finally subscribed to your amazing journal, and was delighted when I received my first copy. Not only was it pleasing to feel that I would be regularly receiving what has consistently been the marker for outstanding poetry, I was also overjoyed to see essays by writers such as Jewelle Gomez, whom I worked with at the Poetry Center, Justin Chin and Opal Palmer Adisa, both of whom I had the pleasure of assisting in their readings at the Center.

Thomas D. Hill, Santa Cruz

I'm from Seattle, WA--part of the West Coast. I've lived up and down the West Coast all but three years of my life. I want to publish in West Coast magazines. I sent something in to you and was sent back a note telling me I had to be living there or something. I'm going to grad school at Iowa and I've only been here three months so I should still have my status. I have boxes and a microwave still on the West Coast.

Matt McIntosh, Iowa City, IA

Although I grew up in rural West Virginia, I have lived here in Georgia for twenty years now and have discovered that the warm weather and slow pace fit me. I own a small place out in the country where I have a workshop and build furniture. I make coffee tables, night tables, chests of drawers, and other items for the house (my favorite is a dry sink based on a 19th-century pattern) from such woods as oak, walnut, cherry, and birch. Also, I have a small orchard where I grow peaches, pears, plums (three varieties), apples, figs, and grapes. And I have four pecan trees.

Trent Busch, Lake Park, GA