Highest Hurdle Press’s latest collection of poetry, Letterhead Volume #1, is a collection of poetry in three sections—the first is a selection of nationally known small and independent press poets, including Mark Sonnenfeld and Joe Verrilli; the next section is an exchange of letters and poems between co-editor Robert Pomerhn and Roarshock editor Harvey Goldner (to whom the volume is dedicated); the third section includes selections by, as the introduction states, “Buffalo [NY] poets and the far-flung members of the Buffalo diaspora.”

Over the course of the three sections, which together present about 75 pieces from 33 poets, we get a little bit of everything (I once again quote the introduction): “confessional poetry, spoken word/slam poetry, vispo, experimental verse, mail art, correspondence, found poetry, political poetry and collage.”

This seems like a great expanse of styles to contain in one collection, but Highest Hurdle Press seems able to do this just about as well as any poetry publisher out there. One of their central poets (and a co-editor of this volume), Robert Pomerhn, is expansive in his styles, as demonstrated by his HHP title from 2006, Abuse Art, Not Children. The secret to their success is that passion and artistic commitment trump a focus on genre.

The poems are laid out strategically by subject matter, either mirroring one another thematically or through counterpoint, which both strengthens the pieces and the overall unity of the book.

Space does not allow me to talk about specific poems. Instead, I will more succinctly recommend the reader to the stunning visual poetry (created in part by contributing editors Bradley Lastname, Brian McMahon and Eric Johnt) and the exchange between Pomerhn and Goldner first and foremost, while recommending the rest of the collection overall as well.

Any student of poetry in modern America should feel compelled to read this collection.